Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has clarified that pan masala products without tobacco or nicotine aren’t covered by the recent ban on manufacture and sale of tobacco/nicotine-containing food items.
The Health and Family Welfare Department has issued a notification addressed to the Commissioner of CT and GST, stating, “It is clarified that Pan Masala not containing tobacco or nicotine is not covered under the prohibition imposed vide the aforesaid notification.”
The Health Department’s clarification comes after confusion arose among traders and consumers post-ban announcement by the Odisha government. Only products with tobacco/nicotine as ingredients are prohibited; tobacco-free pan masala can still be sold in the state.
Earlier, the Odisha government had issued a fresh notification banning the manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of all products containing tobacco or nicotine across the state. This includes chewable, flavoured, scented or additive-mixed items such as gutkha, pan masala or other similar products, whether sold under one name or as separate items intended to be used together.
