Just ahead of World No Tobacco Day (on Friday), the State government issued a formal notification to implement the ban on manufacture, sale, storage, and distribution of gutka and pan masala in the State.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa made an announcement on the floor of the Assembly during the budget session that the government would implement a comprehensive ban on gutka and pan masala.
The notification was issued on May 23 by the Commissioner for Food Safety, the key implementing agency.Following the rules of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the notification says that in the interest of public health, the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of not only pan masala and gutka, but also “any other food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients, by whatsoever name it is available in the market.” The notification is valid in all of Tamil Nadu for a period of one year.
Guidelines are being framed for the same.
