Home / Health / Odisha Bans All Tobacco & Nicotine Foods
Odisha Bans All Tobacco & Nicotine Foods
22 Jan
Summary
- Manufacture, storage, and sale of all tobacco/nicotine foods banned.
- Existing 2013 gutka ban modified to cover all such products.
- Enforcement includes police and food safety staff with strict penalties.
The Odisha government has implemented a comprehensive ban on all food products containing tobacco and nicotine, modifying and expanding the existing gutka prohibition from 2013. This new order, issued by the state health and family welfare department, encompasses the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and consumption of items such as gutka, pan masala, zarda, and khaini. Cigarettes and bidis are explicitly excluded from this prohibition.
The updated regulation seeks to eliminate ambiguities and ensure uniform enforcement across the state. It emphasizes that tobacco and nicotine are not permitted as ingredients in any food products, reinforcing existing food safety regulations. Violators will face severe penal actions, including product seizure, license cancellation, and prosecution.
Director of public health, Nilakantha Mishra, stated that the expanded ban is a response to traders circumventing the previous order. Multiple agencies, including police, food safety staff, and tobacco control personnel, will be involved in enforcing compliance. The health department has directed all enforcement authorities to ensure strict adherence to the new rules, underscoring the government's commitment to tobacco control and public health initiatives.
