Assam: Ban on Tobacco Products Extended for Another Year

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Health and Family Welfare Department has extended the prohibition order against the manufacture, storage, transportation, display, distribution or sale of gutka, pan masala or any chewing materials etc. containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients for a period of one year.

The order has been extended under Regulation 2.3.4. of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 read with Section 26 of the Food Safety and Standards Acts, 2006.

After the long-standing demand from Consumers' Legal Protection Forum (CLPF), Assam, for the first time, Commissioner of Food Safety, Assam issued a Notification Vide No.FSC.12/2013/979 dated Guwahati the 22nd November,2019 and imposed prohibition on the manufacture, storage, transportation, display , distribution or sale of Gutka, Pan Masala or any chewing materials etc. containing tobacco and/or nicotine.

On November 11, 2020, Secretary of CLPF Assam, Advocate Ajoy Hazarika with a delegation team of Forum met Commissioner & Secretary of Health & Family Welfare Department Monalisa Goswami, who is in the charge of Commissioner of Food Safety, Assam and submitted a memorandum demanding to extend the previous prohibition order for a period of one year more which was expired on November 22, 2020.

Advocate Hazarika expressed his gratitude to the State government for this timely extension order and said that in present COVID-19 epidemic situation, use of tobacco products is one of the most vulnerable parts as aware by WHO, ICMR, governments of India and Assam.

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