Gutka, paan masala products banned in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Due to the rising incidence of diseases such as oral cancer, the state government has imposed a ban on the production and also sale of gutka and paan masala consisting tobacco in the state with immediate effect.

State Chief Minister Oommen Chandy stated that the ban on gutka and paan masala consisting tobacco and nicotine was placed under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Regulation Act, 2011.

Kerala has now become the second Indian state to ban the use of gutka and paan masala after Madhya Pradesh.

The rising incidence of gutka-induced diseases such as oral cancer had lead to the ban, said Chandy. The Commissioner of Food Safety (Kerala) had issued the notification banning these products on May

Chandy also stated he had written to Dr Manmohan Singh demanding complete ban on these products all across India.