The Nagaland Health and Family Welfare Department has issued a notification prohibiting the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food products, including gutkha and pan masala containing these substances. The directive was released on Thursday under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sale of Certain Products) Regulations 2011.
Legal Framework
According to the notification, tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products, as per the regulations stipulated under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006. The prohibition applies to all articles of food as defined in Section 3(1)(j) of the Act, covering both chewable and non-chewable items.
Scope of the Ban
The order encompasses all food products that are flavored, scented, or mixed with any toxic additives. This includes widely consumed items such as gutkha and pan masala that contain tobacco or nicotine. The department emphasized that any violation of this prohibition will attract legal action under the relevant food safety laws.
This move aims to protect public health by curbing the consumption of harmful substances. The state government has urged citizens to comply with the regulations and report any instances of non-compliance to the authorities.
