Jharkhand Govt Prohibits Gutkha, Pan Masala for a Year

The Jharkhand government has imposed a one-year ban on the sale, manufacture, storage, and distribution of gutkha and pan masala across the state. The Health and Family Welfare Department issued a notification enforcing the ban under Section 30 (2) (a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011. Health Minister Irfan Ansari emphasized the health risks associated with gutkha, particularly its role in causing oral cancer. The move aims to protect public health, especially the youth, from the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

Key Highlights of the Ban

Scope of the Ban

• The prohibition applies to the manufacture, storage, sale, and distribution of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine.

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Legal Action

• Individuals and businesses violating the ban will face strict legal action as per the notification.
• ACS-cum-Food Safety Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh issued the order and directed the Director, PRD to publish the notification for public awareness.

Reason for the Ban

• The state is witnessing a rapid increase in oral cancer cases, with 40-45 out of every 70 cancer patients per one lakh population suffering due to gutkha consumption.

Previous Bans

• June 2022: The then CM Hemant Soren banned 11 brands of pan masala for a year.
• May 2020: An earlier ban was imposed after magnesium carbonate was detected in pan masala samples.
• 2023: The ban was pending, leading to the resumption of gutkha sales in the state.