The sale of tobacco and other food items like chocolates will no longer be permitted under the same roof henceforth, a notification issued by the Maharashtra government on Wednesday has stated.
This follows a directive by the Union Health Ministry that noticed a rise in tobacco addiction cases among adolescent youth. The government also extended the ban on sale of scented supari from January to July 2018.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday revealed that they have planned a drive to resolve many cases pending under the old Food Prevention Act. The FDA is currently fighting over 5,000 such cases in lower courts. The Bombay High Court had earlier directed lower courts to hear the matters by February.
The FDA has also conducted an inspection drive focused on milk, in response to repeated complains of adulteration. During the drive, 742 milk samples from across Maharashtra have been collected and are being tested.