Tobacco Ban / Ban on Tobacco-Laced Gutkha, Pan Masala Extended until September 2027

Gandhinagar, Aug 31: The Gujarat government has decided to continue its prohibition on gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine for another year, reinforcing its long-standing public health stance.

As per a notification issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety, the renewed ban will be effective from September 13, 2026, and remain valid until September 12, 2027.

Authorities said the decision was based on public health concerns and representations from several NGOs.

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The ban, first imposed in 2012, will continue to apply to such products regardless of the brand name under which they are marketed. It also covers ingredients sold separately but intended to be mixed together to prepare gutkha or pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine.

Officials warned that strict legal action will be taken against violators. “Consumption of gutkha and pan masala is carcinogenic and substantially increases the risk of oral cancer,” the notification stated, citing research by Tata Memorial Hospital, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and HAMER.

The order also referred to findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), which revealed that 35 per cent of adults in India consume tobacco, while 21 percent use smokeless tobacco.

The state government emphasized that the extension was necessary to safeguard citizens’ health and to respond to appeals from NGOs. Enforcement agencies have been directed to act against any manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of prohibited products.

With this extension, Gujarat’s ban on gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine will remain uninterrupted for over a decade, reaffirming the state’s commitment to public health protection.

(IANS)