'Healthy' decision! Rajasthan bans tobacco and Pan Masala under Food Security Act

Jaipur, October 3: On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, the Rajasthan Government banned certain categories of Pan Masala and flavoured Tobacco products made of magnesium, carbonate, nicotine and mineral oil. Rajasthan is the third state to impose this ban after Maharashtra and Bihar. 

 

The government has banned these items under the Food Security Act. Now any kind of sale, production or storage of these products will not be allowed in the Rajasthan. The medical department of Rajasthan will start taking samples of these products, and after investigation, if products found these substances will be banned.

 

The move is aimed to discourage youth to consume these tobacco products which have a cascading effect on their health. Earlier, Rajasthan had banned Tobacco based Gutkha. Then to defy this ban, Pan masala companies started selling tobacco and pan masala separately. Hence, the ban was not successful in the State. Now, all the products containing pan masala, gutkha, tobacco, carbonate and nicotine will be completely banned. The government believes that this decision will control the number of cancer patients in the state. The state government had already banned e-cigarettes and hookah-bars.