SHILLONG : The Nagaland government has renewed its ban on gutkha, tobacco-mixed pan masala and other food products containing tobacco or nicotine, extending restrictions across the state for another year in an effort to protect public health and curb the use of harmful smokeless tobacco products.
The latest notification was issued on June 4 by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Nagaland, under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Under the order, the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of gutkha, pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, and similar food products have been prohibited throughout the state for a period of one year.
Authorities said the decision was taken in the interest of public health and in line with food safety regulations that prohibit the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in food products. The notification also covers products sold separately but intended to be mixed by consumers before consumption, a practice commonly associated with certain smokeless tobacco products.While the announcement may appear to be a fresh crackdown, Nagaland has imposed similar restrictions in the past.
The state has periodically renewed such prohibitions over the years under food safety laws, making the latest order a continuation of an existing policy rather than a completely new measure. The government’s position is rooted in food safety regulations that state tobacco and nicotine cannot be used as ingredients in food products.
Officials had said that products such as gutkha pose significant health risks and contribute to nicotine addiction and serious diseases, including oral cancer. The renewed ban also highlights a question frequently raised by consumers: why products such as cigarettes remain legally available while gutkha and tobacco-mixed pan masala face restrictions.
The distinction lies in the legal framework used to regulate the products. Cigarettes and other smoking products are regulated under separate tobacco-control laws, while gutkha and certain forms of pan masala fall within the scope of food safety regulations when tobacco or nicotine is used as an ingredient.
As a result, several states across India have relied on food safety provisions to prohibit the manufacture and sale of gutkha and similar products. Health experts have long warned about the dangers associated with smokeless tobacco consumption.
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India records one of the highest burdens of oral cancer in the world, with chewing tobacco recognised as a major risk factor. Public health advocates have repeatedly called for stronger enforcement of restrictions on products containing tobacco and nicotine.
The Nagaland government had said the latest prohibition is intended to support those public health objectives by limiting the availability of products considered harmful to consumers. The order is expected to affect retailers, distributors and suppliers dealing in gutkha and tobacco-based pan masala products.
Businesses found violating the notification may face action under the Food Safety and Standards Act and related regulations.
Although enforcement agencies have conducted seizures and inspections during previous ban periods, authorities have not disclosed specific enforcement plans accompanying the latest notification.
With the renewed order now in force, Nagaland joins several states that continue to use food safety laws as a tool to restrict smokeless tobacco products, citing concerns over addiction, disease and the broader impact of tobacco use on public health.
The prohibition will remain in effect for one year unless modified or withdrawn by the state government.