Sale of tobacco products to minors within 100-yard radius of any educational institutions banned

Welcoming the decision of 'Pan Dukan Bebokhai Sanstha' for stopping the sale of Gutkha & Pan Masala in at least 6000 Pan Shops in Guwahati, Arundhati Deka (Director cum State Nodal Officer), Directorate of Health Services appreciated the step and claimed to be a historical step if they can stick into their pronouncement.

She also informed that sale of tobacco products to minors and within the 100-yard radius of any educational institutions which has been mandated by Sections 4 and 6 of the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Product Act (COTPA), 2003.

Notably, sale of Gutkha & Pan Masala to at least 6000 pan shops in Guwahati has been stopped by 'Pan Dukan Bebokhai Sanstha' from Wednesday onwards.

Meanwhile, the Food Safety Department in a notification on Wednesday has banned manufacture, storage, sale, transportation, display or distribution of items containing tobacco and other nicotine in the state of Assam for a period of one year under Clause (a) of Sub-Section 2 of Section 30 of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.