Jharkhand bans gutkha & pan masala

Showing concern about the increasing number of oral cancer cases, the state cabinet of Jharkhand has approved a complete ban on the manufacture, storage and distribution of all types of gutkha and paan masala which contain tobacco and nicotine. The ban has been imposed under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Since 2006, the state has witnessed around 30 % surge in the number of oral cancer cases, a major chunk of which were pertaining to tobacco and related products.

Which state was the first to ban gutkha and paan masala?

• Madhya Pradesh.

How many states have banned tobacco containing products or gutkha & paan masala?

• Till date six states namely Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Goa, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan have banned these products.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2012