×
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Can't ban other forms of tobacco: Minister

Last Updated 16 July 2013, 02:50 IST

The State government has said it cannot ban other forms of tobacco, except gutka, as they were not covered under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2011.

In a written reply to a query by MLC Patel Shivram of the JD(S), Health Minister U T Khader told the council that consumption of tobacco in the form of smoking has been banned in public places by way of the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, 2008.

He also said that under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, a ban has been enforced on advertising such products and sale of tobacco near schools and colleges.

However, as cigarette smoking is not considered under the FSSA, it was impossible to ban such products, he clarified.

The department has said that by way of setting up a State Tobacco Consumption Control Unit and the District Tobacco Control Units, apart from the district in-charge committees, awareness is being created on the ill-effects of tobacco consumption. It said that the National Institute for Mental Health and Sciences (Nimhans), District Hospital in Gulbarga and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike have been appointed as tobacco suggestion centres for addicts.

ADVERTISEMENT
(Published 15 July 2013, 19:19 IST)

Follow us on

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT