AURANGABAD: Anticipating that the manufacturers or any other person may seek a stay on the government's order extending ban on gutka and pan masala by another year, the state government on Friday filed a caveat in the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court. By filing the caveat, the government has ensured that the court would pass no orders without hearing their counsel.
Through a notification dated July 18, 2013, the state government has empowered the food safety commissioner "to prohibit manufacturing, distribution, stocking and sale of gutka and pan masala in Maharashtra under section 30 (2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006". Subsequently, Mahesh Zagade, food safety commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), issued an order prohibiting sale and purchase of gutka and pan masala for a period of one year from July 20, 2013.
Chandrashekhar Salunke, joint commissioner, FDA, filed a caveat on behalf of the state government.
Earlier, on the basis of a similar notification dated July 19, 2012, the food safety commissioner had prohibited for one year the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutka and pan masala containing either tobacco, nicotine or magnesium carbonate as ingredients by whatsoever names they are available in the market. Besides, any other products marketed separately to constitute gutka or pan masala as final product were banned too.
In his order, Zagade listed a number of reasons "in the interest of public" and cited various studies and research to support the government's decision.
"Consumption of these products is increasing in large quantities. Gutka and pan masala can immense damage to the health of consumers and even impact the genes of future generations,'' Zagade said. Besides, he said that these products can cause acute hyper magnesia, cardiac arrest, oral sub mucous fibrosis, oral cancer, metabolic abnormalities, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and affect reproductive health.
Through a notification dated July 18, 2013, the state government has empowered the food safety commissioner "to prohibit manufacturing, distribution, stocking and sale of gutka and pan masala in Maharashtra under section 30 (2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006". Subsequently, Mahesh Zagade, food safety commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), issued an order prohibiting sale and purchase of gutka and pan masala for a period of one year from July 20, 2013.
Chandrashekhar Salunke, joint commissioner, FDA, filed a caveat on behalf of the state government.
Earlier, on the basis of a similar notification dated July 19, 2012, the food safety commissioner had prohibited for one year the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of gutka and pan masala containing either tobacco, nicotine or magnesium carbonate as ingredients by whatsoever names they are available in the market. Besides, any other products marketed separately to constitute gutka or pan masala as final product were banned too.
In his order, Zagade listed a number of reasons "in the interest of public" and cited various studies and research to support the government's decision.
"Consumption of these products is increasing in large quantities. Gutka and pan masala can immense damage to the health of consumers and even impact the genes of future generations,'' Zagade said. Besides, he said that these products can cause acute hyper magnesia, cardiac arrest, oral sub mucous fibrosis, oral cancer, metabolic abnormalities, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and affect reproductive health.
No comments:
Post a Comment