After Assam Govt's Gutka ban, Guwahati CP promises action against violators "as per Law"

GUWAHATI: Moments after the Government of Assam imposed a ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation, display, distribution, or sale of gutka, pan masala or any chewing materials, etc. containing tobacco and/or nicotine for one more, Guwahati Police Commissioner Munna Prasad Gupta said that action would be taken against violators of the new rule.

"As and when offenders are brought to our notice, we will take action against them as per Law," Gupta told Inside Northeast upon being contact.

To date, it has been seen that in spite of the Government's ban, many people have been found flagrantly defying the order and continuing their consumption of the above-mentioned substances.

"The Assam Government has banned the manufacture, storage, transportation, display, distribution or sale of Gutka, Pan Masala or any chewing materials, etc. containing tobacco and/or nicotine for 1 year more," said an official release.

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Guwahati: The Health and Family Welfare Department of the Government of Assam extend the prohibition order against the manufacture, storage, transportation, display, distribution or sale of Gutka, Pan Masala, or any chewing materials etc. containing tobacco and/or nicotine as ingredients under Regulation 2.3.4. of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011 read with Section 26 of the Food Safety and Standards Acts, 2006, for a period of 1 (one) year more.

After the continued demand from the Consumers’ Legal Protection Forum, Assam, for the first time, Commissioner of Food Safety, Assam issued a Notification Vide No.FSC.12/2013/979 dated Guwahati on the 22nd of November, 2019 and imposed a prohibition on the manufacture, storage, transportation, display , distribution, or sale of gutka, pan masala or any chewing materials, etc. containing tobacco and/or nicotine.

On November 11, 2020, advocate Ajoy Hazarika, Secretary, Consumers' Legal Protection Forum, Assam with a delegation team of Forum meet Monalisa Goswami, Commissioner & Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department who is in the charge of Commissioner of Food Safety, Assam and submitted a memorandum demanded to extend the previous prohibition order for a period of one year more which was expired on 22nd November’2020.

Hazarika, who is the Secretary of the Consumers' Legal Protection Forum, Assam, has thanked the Government for this timely extension order. "In present Covid-19 epidemic situation, use of tobacco products are one of the most vulnerable part as aware by WHO, ICMR, Govt. of India and Govt. of Assam. This extension order will definitely have an impact on public health of Assam," he said.

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