CHENNAI: The state govt has imposed more than 6.2 crore as a compounding penalty and ordered closure of 7,693 shops for up to three months since Nov for stocking and selling gutka and pan masala besides favoured chewable tobacco.
In May 2023, Tamil Nadu extended the ban on the manufacture, storage, transport, distribution, or sale of chewable food products such as gutka and pan masala, containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients for a period of one year.The order was issued by the commissioner of food safety, in pursuance of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 nearly a month after the Supreme Court set aside the Madras High Court order quashing the ban imposed by the state since 2013.
Yet, the state saw a rampant violation of the ban. In January, the food safety commissioner issued orders allowing food inspectors to levy higher fines and close shops. “Sale of tobacco is banned near educational institutions and sale of gutka and pan masala are banned across the state. These products cause health hazards including cancer. We want to ensure they are not accessible,” said health secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi.
As per the January order, inspectors can close shops for a week and impose a fine of 25,000 at the first instance of violation. For the second time, the fine would be 50,000, and the shop can be closed for up to a month. For the third time, the amount increases to 1 lakh, and shops can be closed for three months.
The state also formed 391 joint teams with food inspectors, revenue, and police officials to enforce the ban. Over the last four months, 3,716 shops were closed based on joint inspections and 3,977 shops were closed based on police inspection FIRs, he said. More than 390 tonnes of products containing tobacco and nicotine have been seized for the above period so far.
In May 2023, Tamil Nadu extended the ban on the manufacture, storage, transport, distribution, or sale of chewable food products such as gutka and pan masala, containing tobacco and nicotine as ingredients for a period of one year.The order was issued by the commissioner of food safety, in pursuance of the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 nearly a month after the Supreme Court set aside the Madras High Court order quashing the ban imposed by the state since 2013.
Yet, the state saw a rampant violation of the ban. In January, the food safety commissioner issued orders allowing food inspectors to levy higher fines and close shops. “Sale of tobacco is banned near educational institutions and sale of gutka and pan masala are banned across the state. These products cause health hazards including cancer. We want to ensure they are not accessible,” said health secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi.
As per the January order, inspectors can close shops for a week and impose a fine of 25,000 at the first instance of violation. For the second time, the fine would be 50,000, and the shop can be closed for up to a month. For the third time, the amount increases to 1 lakh, and shops can be closed for three months.
The state also formed 391 joint teams with food inspectors, revenue, and police officials to enforce the ban. Over the last four months, 3,716 shops were closed based on joint inspections and 3,977 shops were closed based on police inspection FIRs, he said. More than 390 tonnes of products containing tobacco and nicotine have been seized for the above period so far.