Uttarakhand Imposes One-Year Ban on Gutkha and Pan Masala

The Uttarakhand government has banned the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of gutkha, pan masala, and food products containing tobacco or nicotine for one year.

Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey issued the order under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, citing public health concerns.

The ban strictly enforces Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, which prohibits tobacco as a food ingredient.