Punjab Govt To Act Tough With Vendors Selling Loose Cigarette/Chewable Tobacco & E-Cigarettes-Jayani
Author(s): City Air NewsChandigarh, November 27, 2015: Acting swiftly on a complaint received by the department regarding violations of Anti-tobacco act (COTPA) in the state, Health Minister Punjab, Surjit Kumar Jayani has asked the Director...
cityairnews
Nov 27, 2015 10:30
0
Chandigarh, November 27, 2015: Acting swiftly on a complaint received by the department regarding violations of Anti-tobacco act (COTPA) in the state, Health Minister Punjab, Surjit Kumar Jayani has asked the Director Health to himself monitor the cases of violations especially open sale of loose cigarettes, which is a violation of Section 7 of COTPA & chewable tobacco which has already been banned under Food Safety Act (FSSAI)
In a statement issued here today, the Minister said that the state health department has already chalked out an effective strategy to check the sale of tobacco and also the implementation of anti tobacco Act. District level task Force along with the officials of Police Department has been conducting a surprise check at different Points of Sale of tobacco products to check violations as per complaints received by the department in this regard.
The Minister said that wherever there was an open sale counter of loose cigarettes & chewable tobacco, the teams have been asked to immediately issue challans and the teams have been especially asked to keep a close watch on the outlets near markets, educational institutions , railway station and bus stands. On the spot challans have been issued under section 7 of COTPA against 15 tobacco vendors and one vendor was booked under section 5 of COTPA for displaying Tobacco advertisement. Three vendors were booked under FSSAI for sale of chewable tobacco. One Hukkah Bar was raided by the team. As many as 12 Hukkahs, 22 Pipes, Flavored tobacco & Tobacco molasses were seized at various places across the state.
Health Minister reiterated that sale of loose cigarettes/tobacco & chewable tobacco products, E-Cigarettes were completely banned in Punjab. He said that the concerted efforts of Punjab government got due recognition by WHO on World No Tobacco Day. Strict action under law would be taken against the shopkeepers who violate various provisions of COTPA and FSSAI. He also added that there are many poisonous chemicals in tobacco due to which about 3000 people are killed daily in India. So it is very important to curb this menace. License of a commercial establishment could be cancelled in case of violation of Tobacco Control Act as per notification of Punjab government.
Mr. Jayani said that strict instructions have been issued to all district Health Officers and Food Safety Officers to seize the chewable tobacco under Food Safety & Standard Act of India ( FSSAI) and initiate action against sale of E-Cigarettes under Drugs and cosmetics act.
Date:
Friday, November 27, 2015
