West Bengal boycotts gutkha, pan masala for a year

The West Bengal government on Tuesday reported a prohibition on assembling and offer of gutkha and dish masala containing tobacco for a year. As indicated by express government’s organization, the restriction will become effective from November 7, 2021. 

A warning gave by West Bengal’s wellbeing division said that the choice has been taken remembering the soundness of individuals. It likewise said that the chief of sanitation is engaged under Section 30 of the food handling and norms act, 2006 to force such a prohibition on produce, stockpiling, dispersion or offer of any article of food in the whole state. 

“According to guideline 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations 2011 made by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, in the activity of forces presented by proviso (I) of sub-area (2) of segment 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Central Act 34 of 2006) read with segment 26 thereof, denies offer of articles of food in which tobacco or potentially nicotine are utilized as fixings, as they might be damaging to wellbeing,” said the warning gave under the mark of Tapan K Rudra, official of food handling, West Bengal. 

The Mamata Banerjee government had chosen to boycott gutkha, betel zest and a few other tobacco items without precedent for 2019. In 2013, the state government had prohibited khaini, gutkha and skillet masala in West Bengal for one year.