Tobacco products banned in interior Manipur district

IMPHAL: Tobacco products such as Zarda, Gutkha, Khaini, Pan Masala and others have been banned in interior Bishenpur district of Manipur with immediate effect, official sources said today.

Sources said as per a notification of the Chief Medical Officer of the district yesterday, selling, manufacturing, distributing, displaying and purchacing of all tobacco products including chewable and smokeless tobacco products containing tobacco or nicotine food ingredients were completely banned in the district.

Sources also said packaged food items without indicating the name of the manufacturer, batch no., date of expiry etc imported particularly from neighbouring Myanmar such as milk-related items (Mikko, Snacks) or pickles (fruits and fishes) were also banned with immediate effect from yesterday (March 18).

The steps were taken as per provisions of the food safety and standards Act, 2009, said the sources quoting the government notification.

Sources said steps would also be taken soon to ban the selling of such items in other districts of the state.