Bhubaneswar: In a major step to protect public health, the Odisha government has enforced a complete ban on manufacturing, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of gutkha and any product containing tobacco or nicotine as an ingredient.
The prohibition, issued through a notification by the Health and Family Welfare Department on January 21, is in strict compliance with directives from Supreme Court and guidelines of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), ensuring that the state’s measures are aligned with national food safety standards.
The prohibition covers all food products chewable or otherwise whether flavoured, scented, mixed or combined with additives. It is ebing implemented under Section 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The government emphasised that this measure is essential for safeguarding public health and promoting a tobacco-free society. It has appealed to citizens to strictly comply with the ban and actively contribute to building a healthier and tobacco-free Odisha.
Health experts have long warned that tobacco and nicotine-based products are directly linked to severe health conditions, including cancers of the mouth, throat and internal organs. These substances pose a particularly grave risk to children and young people, making the ban a crucial step toward protecting future generations.
