2 Cr people more important than 50,000 paan shops: Zagade
A day after thousands of paan shop owners took to the streets protesting against the ban imposed by the Food and Drugs Adminstration (FDA) on gutkha, paan masala, scented tobacco and scented supari, FDA commissioner Mahesh Zagade addressed mediapersons stating that it was a question private business versus public health.
Stating that the protests by paan shop owners was unjustified, Zagade said that it was the job of FDA to protect public health from any substance that is harmful and the tobacco products were not only addictive but carcinogenic.
“If they say that 50,000 paan shops lost business due to the ban, think about the 2 crore people addicted to tobacco products. 66lakh among them are likely to die a premature death. You can weigh the pros and cons yourself,” said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, who was present with Zagade, said. He is a head and neck surgeon at Tata Memoral Hospital.
Stating that the ban was being implemented in most aggressive manner in Maharashtra, Zagade said that gutkha and paan masala products worth Rs21 crore had been seized so far since last year’s ban. When pointed out that these banned goods were still being smuggled from other states, Zagade said that he had written to all food safety commissioners in all states asking them to implement the ban on lines of Maharashtra and ensure strict compliance. “We have also written to railway authorities to check the banned goods being sent by rail route form other states,” said Zagade.
Stating that the protests by paan shop owners was unjustified, Zagade said that it was the job of FDA to protect public health from any substance that is harmful and the tobacco products were not only addictive but carcinogenic.
“If they say that 50,000 paan shops lost business due to the ban, think about the 2 crore people addicted to tobacco products. 66lakh among them are likely to die a premature death. You can weigh the pros and cons yourself,” said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, who was present with Zagade, said. He is a head and neck surgeon at Tata Memoral Hospital.
Stating that the ban was being implemented in most aggressive manner in Maharashtra, Zagade said that gutkha and paan masala products worth Rs21 crore had been seized so far since last year’s ban. When pointed out that these banned goods were still being smuggled from other states, Zagade said that he had written to all food safety commissioners in all states asking them to implement the ban on lines of Maharashtra and ensure strict compliance. “We have also written to railway authorities to check the banned goods being sent by rail route form other states,” said Zagade.
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