The Delhi Government has banned the sale, purchase and storage of all forms of chewable tobacco, including “gutkha, pan masala, khaini and zarda for one year. The Department of Food Safety issued a notification in this regard which says that unpackaged products of chewable tobacco, too, are covered under the ambit of the ban.

The earlier notification issued by the government for prohibition of tobacco products had specified “gutkha” but missed out on raw components. Realising the loophole, the city government tweaked the notification extending the ban to unpackaged products of chewable tobacco as well.

Further the notification stated that the manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of tobacco which is either flavoured, scented or mixed and whether going by the name or form of gutka, pan, masala, flavoured/scented tobacco, kharra, or otherwise whether packaged or unpackaged and/or sold as one product, or though packaged as separate products, sold or distributed in such manner so as to easily facilitate mixing by the consume is prohibited for a period of one year.

Harmful effects of Tobacco
• Tobacco use leads most commonly to diseases affecting the heart, liver and lungs.
• Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease etc.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year tobacco causes about 6 million deaths.