[1]Following in the footsteps of Kerala which, on May 22, banned pan masala and gutka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra are set to ban the two substances that are harmful to health.
According to top officials here, food safety authorities from these two states have secured a copy of the Kerala order and are expected to issue similar orders there soon. Assam has sought the details from here.
Officials here say the three states have put their faith in the Kerala order and believe its “water-tight” provisions can withstand legal scrutiny. Madhya Pradesh was the first state to ban these substances, on March 31, and Bihar followed up with its ban order on May 27.
A total of six cases are pending in the Kerala high court related to the ban of pan masala and gutka –products that contain tobacco and nicotine.
More than 10 tonnes of pan masala and gutka have been seized from different parts of the state so far. The legal proceedings vis-a-vis the seized material will be initiated only after the disposal of the cases, it is learnt.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/24gutkagifcropdisplayjpg-551