India: Manipur to Ban Smokeless Tobacco Products

Source from:  Assam Tribune (in)  02/01/2013

Manipur is all set to ban consumption of smokeless tobacco products within a short span of time.

Speaking to The Assam Tribune on the sidelines of the Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS) Fact Sheet releasing function in Imphal today, Commissioner Ram Muivah of the State Health Department said that the government is planning to ban consumption of smokeless tobacco in the State.

"It's a matter of time," he said.

Stating that the matter should be taken up in the State Cabinet for its approval, he added that the State Food Commissioner is empowered to enforce the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulation No 2.3.4 which prohibits addition of tobacco or nicotine in food.

So far 18 States of the country, including Mizoram and Nagaland (two highest tobacco consuming States in the country as per their population) have banned consumption of smokeless tobacco.

As per GATS Fact Sheet (2009-10), Nagaland has a prevalence rate of 57 percent with 32% in the smoking category and 45% in the smokeless category next to Mizoram, which has tobacco consumption of 67% – including 40% in the smoking category and 41% in the smokeless category. Tripura, Meghalaya and Manipur rank third, fourth and fifth with 56%, 55% and 54% of the population use tobacco products.

Chief Medical Officer Dr L Swasticharan of National Tobacco Control Programme under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, speaking to media persons soon after the formal release of the fact sheet by State's Rural Development Minister Francis Ngajokpa in Imphal, said that people in the region cannot call themselves a civilized society if they couldn't protect their women and children from the impact of tobacco use.

He added that around 5 to 6 lakh premature deaths were reported in India annually due to tobacco-related diseases. In other words, it's like crashing of 10 Jumbo jets (each jet carrying 300 passengers) in India every year, he added.

Similarly, Manipur records around 3.4 lakh premature deaths, he said and added that a two-day 'Campaign for Tobacco Free Northeast' will be launched in Guwahati in February end to spread awareness on tobacco use followed by similar campaigns in other States. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will launch the campaign on February 27, he added. Enditem