Conflicting laws on the permission for the sale of tobacco products keep the illegal sale of banned products thriving in the state
It was in 2013 that Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa banned tobacco products including pan masala and chewable tobacco in the state, citing increasing cases of oral cancer. A decade later, conflicting laws on the permission for the sale of tobacco products, loopholes in the Acts and enormous support from consumers keep the illegal sale of banned tobacco products thriving in the state.
Though the government renews the ban every year as per Food Safety and Standards Act of India (FSSAI) (the latest one was on May 23) it does not act as a deterrent to law breakers.
Though the government renews the ban every year as per Food Safety and Standards Act of India (FSSAI) (the latest one was on May 23) it does not act as a deterrent to law breakers.