Delhi Government Prohibits Sale of All Types of Chewing Tobacco

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India's capital has been suffering from a high number of mouth and throat cancer cases prompting the government to ban all types of chewing tobacco.  It includes the sales prohibition, purchase as well as possession leading to imprisonment that takes up to six months and a fine of 300,000 rupees or $4,500.

Almost 90% of all mouth cancers in India are caused by chewable tobacco products. Tobacco producers won a court case against previous bans, however, public awareness regarding the dangers has risen and the New Delhi government has promised to implement the new ban.  It was announced last week and was welcomed by health activists as well as doctors, as reported by abc News.

"This is a positive step by the government and we welcome it. The use of chewing tobacco is so widespread that India is often referred to as the oral cancer capital of the world," said G.R. Khatri, president of the South Asia chapter of the World Lung Foundation.


According to the Economic Times, a notification was issued by the Department of Food Safety announcing the producing and sale of gutkha, khaini, pan masala and zarda packed or unpacked are forbidden for a year due to damage on public health.

Few states starting with Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Bihar, Maharashtra and Rajasthan prohibited gutkha just months after the Food and Safety Standards Regulations' notification  which is the Prohibition and Restriction on Sales. This Act certainly states that "tobacco and nicotine shall not be used as ingredients in any food products", The Hindu reports.

India has prohibited advertising tobacco for more than 10 years.  Tobacco companies are opposing a recent order for warning messages to enclose 85% of cigarette packages. Almost a third of all tobacco-related  deaths in the world belong to India, and the government has been trying to stop tobacco use.

Tags
India, pan masala, oral and throat cancer, Tobacco
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