The Government of Delhi has banned the use and sale of chewable Tobacco. This ban will continue for one year. This ban will include Gutka, Pan Masala, Khaini and Zarda in the national capital. This step is taken with regard of Food Safety department report yesterday.

According to this notification all the unpackaged products of Chewable Tobacco too are covered under the ambit of the ban.

“The manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of tobacco which is either flavoured, scented or mixed… And whether going by the name or form of gutka, pan, masala, flavoured/scented tobacco, kharra, or otherwise… Whether packaged or unpackaged and/or sold as one product, or though packaged as separate products, sold or distributed in such manner so as to easily facilitate mixing by the consumer” is prohibited for a period of one year, the notification stated.

A notification was issued by Delhi Government in September, 2012 said by Health Department officials. This will take steps in pursuance of series of directions from Supreme Court for a ban on ‘Gutkha’ in the city.
As the term ‘Gutkha’ was used in the notification by Delhi Government, The tobacco retailers started selling the components in seperate packets which includes the components of Gutkha as Betal nut and raw tobacco thus defeating the purpose behind the ban on Gutkha.

“The health department had, therefore, come up with a new proposal for banning all raw chewable tobacco products in Delhi,” a senior official said.