VARANASI: The drive to put a complete check on the sale of gutkha
will be visible in the district from today. Speaking to TOI, district
magistrate Prajal Yadav said, "The process of constituting teams of
officials to carry out this drive effectively has started. Apart from
officers of district administration, officials and staff of other
departments including food, safety and drugs administration and police
will be responsible for making this drive a success."
In October 2012, office of commissioner of food safety and drug administration department, UP, had issued a notification which said, "Whereas, Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulation, 2011, made by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, in exercise of the powers conferred by clauses of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (Central Act 34 of 2006), prohibits articles of food in which tobacco and nicotine are used as ingredients as they are injurious to health."
In pursuance of the same regulation, manufacturing, storage, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan masala, containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, by whatsoever name it is available in the market, was prohibited in UP in the interest of public health from April 1, said the notification. It was expected that the gutkha and pan masala would be unavailable from betel kiosks and other shops from Monday morning but ground reality remained totally contrary to the notification of food safety and drug administration department.
When some staff members of this department's local office were contacted, they failed to tell the reasons for turning a blind eye to the order. Though, some of them revealed that guktha and pan masala manufacturers had taken shelter from court against this order. But now, the DM has made it clear that these manufacturers and traders have not got any stay order or relief from any court so far, hence, the drive is going to launch with immediate effect to ensure compliance of the notification issued in October 2012.
In October 2012, office of commissioner of food safety and drug administration department, UP, had issued a notification which said, "Whereas, Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on sales) Regulation, 2011, made by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, in exercise of the powers conferred by clauses of Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 (Central Act 34 of 2006), prohibits articles of food in which tobacco and nicotine are used as ingredients as they are injurious to health."
In pursuance of the same regulation, manufacturing, storage, sale and distribution of gutkha and pan masala, containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, by whatsoever name it is available in the market, was prohibited in UP in the interest of public health from April 1, said the notification. It was expected that the gutkha and pan masala would be unavailable from betel kiosks and other shops from Monday morning but ground reality remained totally contrary to the notification of food safety and drug administration department.
When some staff members of this department's local office were contacted, they failed to tell the reasons for turning a blind eye to the order. Though, some of them revealed that guktha and pan masala manufacturers had taken shelter from court against this order. But now, the DM has made it clear that these manufacturers and traders have not got any stay order or relief from any court so far, hence, the drive is going to launch with immediate effect to ensure compliance of the notification issued in October 2012.
No comments:
Post a Comment