Mahesh Zagade, food commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA ) Maharashtra, wrote a letter urging the Centre to impose a life ban on smokeless products, which would be in the best interests of the health of 120 crore Indians.
He said, “Maharashtra and many other states banned the manufacture, sale and consumption of smokeless tobacco products – including tobacco, paan masala and scented products (barring scented supari) in 2012.
Zagade added that the state amended the notification to prohibit scented supari and all other smokeless products, and was the leading state in implementing the ban by seizing and destroying smokeless products worth Rs 21 crore last year.
“However, no such ban was imposed in other states. In a few cases, it was not implemented properly and as a result, gutkha continues to be sold illegally,” he added, informing that gutkha and other scented products worth Rs 56 lakh has been seized in Maharashtra since July 2013.
“When the provision for a ban on gutkha, tobacco and paan masala was made in the year 2012, manufacturers used to add separate flavours in the supari and tobacco, which was also injurious for health. This made it contrary to the provision,” Zagade said.
“So we, as the state's food regulator, amended the provisions by banning all the smokeless products, thus making it difficult for the manufacturers, wholesalers and paan stalls to continue running their businesses,” he added.
Zagade added, “Many big tobacco manufacturers went to the High Court. But they failed to get the stay from the High Court. Now some of them have moved the Supreme Court, but since the ban has come into effect, the manufacturers will not get the stay.”
“Earlier, manufacturers manufactured smokeless products, and would attract consumers by resorting to various marketing gimmicks, which consumers were not aware of. But now, after the complete ban, manufacturers will no longer be able to play with the health of 11 crore people of Maharashtra,” he added.
Zagade informed that he wrote to the food commissioners of all states of the country, urging them to implement it strictly in their states, and asked the railway authorities, municipal commissioners and police authorities to cooperate with the FDA officials for the proper implementation of the ban.
He said, “Maharashtra and many other states banned the manufacture, sale and consumption of smokeless tobacco products – including tobacco, paan masala and scented products (barring scented supari) in 2012.
Zagade added that the state amended the notification to prohibit scented supari and all other smokeless products, and was the leading state in implementing the ban by seizing and destroying smokeless products worth Rs 21 crore last year.
“However, no such ban was imposed in other states. In a few cases, it was not implemented properly and as a result, gutkha continues to be sold illegally,” he added, informing that gutkha and other scented products worth Rs 56 lakh has been seized in Maharashtra since July 2013.
“When the provision for a ban on gutkha, tobacco and paan masala was made in the year 2012, manufacturers used to add separate flavours in the supari and tobacco, which was also injurious for health. This made it contrary to the provision,” Zagade said.
“So we, as the state's food regulator, amended the provisions by banning all the smokeless products, thus making it difficult for the manufacturers, wholesalers and paan stalls to continue running their businesses,” he added.
Zagade added, “Many big tobacco manufacturers went to the High Court. But they failed to get the stay from the High Court. Now some of them have moved the Supreme Court, but since the ban has come into effect, the manufacturers will not get the stay.”
“Earlier, manufacturers manufactured smokeless products, and would attract consumers by resorting to various marketing gimmicks, which consumers were not aware of. But now, after the complete ban, manufacturers will no longer be able to play with the health of 11 crore people of Maharashtra,” he added.
Zagade informed that he wrote to the food commissioners of all states of the country, urging them to implement it strictly in their states, and asked the railway authorities, municipal commissioners and police authorities to cooperate with the FDA officials for the proper implementation of the ban.
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