Consumers Forum and tobacco victims lauds efforts of Assam government

Smokeless tobacco ban

GUWAHATI: Consumers Forum and tobacco victims highly appreciated the decision of the Assam government to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, sale, transportation, display of Gutkha, pan masala and other chewing material containing tobacco and nicotine in the state.

In their statement, they thanked Dr Chandrima Baruah, Commissioner of Food Safety, Govt of Assam for her efforts towards the initiative of banning chewing tobacco, Gutkha and pan masala containing nicotine.

Some of the tobacco victims from Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute said in their statement that they fully support the decision and said that once fully implemented, the order will save millions of people from becoming cancer victim and other dreaded diseases. They especially thanked Dr Chandrima Baruah for her continuous efforts to issue the order.

Advocate Ajoy Hazarika, Secretary, Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum said “I would like to thank Dr Chandrima Baruah for her decision to ban smokeless tobacco because in the state of Assam the rise in number of tobacco users, especially smokeless, is a cause of worry and it is easily accessible to children and youth. The Global Adult tobacco Survey 2 (GATS2) released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) shows 48 percent of the adult population in Assam consumes tobacco. We are working in the state through our programs to protect the public especially youth and children from exposure to tobacco use. We therefore welcome the decision which is much needed in the interest of the people of Assam. I again express my thanks to Dr Chandrima Baruah for her effort and I wish this order will soon be implemented in the state of Assam.”

Ashim Sanyal, COO, Consumer Voice said that “The initiative to ban Gutkha and paan masala in Assam is a significant decision and hope this order will soon be implemented so that the people can lead a more healthy and productive life as both tobacco and nicotine products will be out” The ban, which comes into immediate effect, follows an order issued by the Food Safety Department under Clause (a) of sub section 2 of Section 30 of Food safety and Security Act, 2006. The notification, signed by Assam’s Commissioner of Food Safety on November 22 said the prohibition comes under regulation 2.3.4 of the Food and Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulation, 2011. Besides paan masala and Gutkha, any other chewing material containing tobacco or nicotine would also come under the purview of the ban, the notification said.

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