Punjab bans sale of gutkha, pan masala

The Punjab government on Monday banned the sale, storage, manufacture and distribution of tobacco products 'gutkha' and 'pan masala' in the state.

The Punjab government on Monday banned the sale, storage, manufacture and distribution of tobacco products 'gutkha' and 'pan masala' in the state.

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A spokesperson of the CMO said chief minister Parkash Singh Badal cleared the file on Monday morning, thereby approving the proposal of the state health and family welfare department of banning gutkha and pan masala in larger public interest.

"Chewing of gutkha, pan masala and other tobacco products is a potent health hazard and responsible for deadly disease of cancer, especially of mouth and throat. Likewise, any other food products containing tobacco or nicotine as ingredients by whatsoever name available in the market have also been banned," said the spokesperson.

The Punjab government had already banned the sale and consumption of gutkha and pan masala in four districts of Rupnagar, SAS Nagar, Amritsar and Mansa.