Telangana government enforces Statewide ban on gutka and pan masala

Telangana government bans Gutka and Pan Masala with tobacco and nicotine to protect public health.

The Telangana government has issued a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of Gutka and Pan Masala containing tobacco and nicotine throughout the State, effective immediately.

The Commissioner of Food Safety announced the order on May 24, citing public health concerns. The prohibition is enacted under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, in conjunction with regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction of Sales) Regulation 2011.

Unorganised Sector

This order has disrupted Hyderabad’s markets since Sunday afternoon, with pan shop owners willing to comply but facing difficulties due to the sector’s unorganised nature.

“There are about 1.5 lakh pan shops in Telangana. We support banning gutka and many shops have already stopped selling it. However, we request authorities to exempt chewing tobacco and zarda, as millions of families depend on these sales for their livelihood,” said Mohammed Salahuddin Dakhni, president of the Pan Shop Owners Association of Telangana.

Mr. Salahuddin mentioned that his association had previously submitted representations to Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on this issue. He said that many pan shops across the State also have posters displayed outside saying that they don’t sell gutka.

“We accept the government’s order, but there needs to be a clear chain of command,” said a pan shop owner from Yousufguda, speaking anonymously. “While gutka and pan masala are banned, if law enforcement inspects our shops and finds zarda, which contains negligible tobacco, they might still trouble shop owners,” he added.