India: Crackdown on Tobacco Sellers from Monday

Source from:  Times of India 05/12/2015

The state health department's food safety wing will from Monday start nabbing traders found selling smokeless tobacco products other than raw tobacco, or 'khaini'. The department on Saturday also issued a notification, giving 15 days to dealers of smokeless tobacco products to shift their produce out of Bihar. The notification follows a Supreme Court order on Friday that upheld the ban on these items ordered by the state government.

After May 24, even transportation of such products to other states will be declared illegal. However, one will not be allowed to sale tobacco products during this 15-day window period. "Raids will start from Monday to check whether this window period is being misused for selling the products," said health secretary cum food safety commissioner Anand Kishor.

All tobacco products other than bidi, cigarette and 'khaini' were banned by the state government on November 7 last. Packaged 'khaini', which is mixed with additives; scented areca nut and scented tobacco (pan masala, zarda) or any chewable tobacco product, whether packaged or unpackaged, are included in the list of banned items. Enditem