Keralites Want Ban on Tobacco-Based Pan Masala and Gutka

After Assam has banned consumption of harmful tobacco-based pan masala and gutka products, a cross section of people in Kerala have called for a similar legislation in the state.

People say the desired impact of the ban - of reducing the public health burden - cannot be achieved unless consumption is also prohibited.

Gutka, Pan Masala to be Banned in Tripura, Meghalaya
As per the rules of the union government, Tripura and Meghalaya is all set to ban the sale, manufacture and distribution of gutka and pan masala.

"Since our state banned these products in 2012, we have been taking stringent action against violators," said K. Anil Kumar, commissioner for food safety, the regulating department for the effective implementation of the ban on pan masala and gutka.

"The smuggling of these products into our state has been a major challenge in implementing the effective ban on pan masala and gutka containing tobacco and nicotine.

"As such, any positive step in addition to this ban or strengthening this ban would be highly desirable. This would also help in curbing use among children in their vulnerable years," he said.

Punjab Bans Gutka and Pan Masala
Punjab Monday ordered a complete ban on the manufacture and distribution of tobacco-based products such as gutka (tobacco-laced areca nut pieces) and pan masala in the state, says officials.

Kerala was the second state in the country after Madhya Pradesh to ban the manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations 2011.

K. Ramadas of the Regional Cancer Centre here said that while oncologists and the medical fraternity at large can treat and provide care to the cancer afflicted, a legislative reform, as has been effected in Assam, would have far-reaching positive implications.

Move for Stringent Ban on Tobacco Items By Supreme Court
A notice was issued to the government on a plea for ban on manufacture, distribution, sale, export, import and consumption of chewing tobacco, gutka and pan masala in all their forms.

"Chewing tobacco, whether it is pan masala and gutka, is a major cause of cancer in the head and neck in Kerala," he said.

"I have seen several youngsters who have lost their taste buds, parts of their tongue and jawbones due to use of these smokeless tobacco products. This sorry state can be corrected to a great extent if Kerala can also legislatively ban the consumption of chewing tobacco products."

Government to Impose Countrywide Ban on Smokeless Tobacco Products
Supreme Court of India is soon considering to impose a total ban on gutka and other forms of smokeless tobacco products.

Assam has banned consumption of pan masala, gutka etc under the Assam Health (Prohibition of manufacturing, advertisement, trade, storage, distribution, sale and consumption of zarda, gutka, pan masala, etc, containing tobacco and/or nicotine) Act, 2013.

Vimala Menon, secretary of charity organisation Cheshire Home here, said that as someone who has seen the suffering of cancer victims in palliative care, "I feel that everything possible should be done to bring down cancer incidence in our state".

"Banning consumption of all forms of chewing tobacco products by law and imposing strict penalty on violators would be an effective move," Menon said.

Source-IANS