The Jharkhand government has banned the sale of pan masala and gutkha that contain nicotine or tobacco for a period of one year. The restriction will take effect immediately, according to the state Health and Family Welfare Department, which released the announcement on Tuesday.
ACS-cum-The order was issued by Food Safety Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh in accordance with Regulations 2, 3, and 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 as well as Section 30 (2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. In order to raise awareness, Singh also requested that the Director of the Department of Information & Public Relations post the notice in newspapers for three days. The announcement states that anyone who produce, store, and distribute pan masala and gutkha in the state would face legal repercussions.
State Health Minister Irfan Ansari voiced concerns about the growing number of mouth cancer patients in the state during the Cancer Day event. He added that the prohibition was put in place to safeguard the interests and well-being of the state’s youth.
Official statistics show that the state’s tobacco and nicotine use has been contributing to a sharp rise in the number of people with mouth cancer. According to the data, there are roughly 70 cases of cancer for every lakh individuals. Of these, 40–45 individuals had gutkha and tobacco-related oral cancer. At least 11 pan masala brands were outlawed for a year in June 2022 at the behest of then-Chief Minister Hemant Soren. Before that, a ban was imposed on May 8, 2020, after magnesium carbonate was found in the samples of pan masala.
