File photo: A vendor looks on near different brands of chewing tobacco hanging on a road side shop. (Agence France-Presse)
Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij today said that the manufacturing, storage, distribution and sale of tobacco products including gutka, pan masala,flavored or scented tobacco and kharra would continue to be completely banned in the state.
Mr Vij said that the step has been taken keeping in view of health of the people. He further said that other products containing tobacco which are available in market are also included in it.
The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has issued a notification in this regard, under which, sale and purchase of tobacco products have been prohibited for one year from September 3, 2015 in the interest of public health, he said, according to an official release.
He said that it also includes mix of other ingredients such as heavy metals, anticaking agents except to the extent of specifically permitted as ingredients, silver leaf,binders, flavours, scents, fragrances, prohibited chemicals or any one of these ingredients.
"Nicotine has been added in the list of 19 types of poisons notified under Haryana Poison Possession and Sales Rules, 1966. After addition of nicotine poison in the list, their number has increased to 20. Now those selling Nicotine would have to follow the same rules which were applicable on those indulged in possession and sales of already notified poisons. Nicotine means Nicotine in extracted form; Nicotine in any form as an additive and/or its derivatives," he said, according to the release.
Mr Vij said that Acetic acid, Acetic Anhydride, Sulphuric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Phosphoric Acid, Hydrofluoric acid, Perchloric acid, Formic acid, Hydrocyanic acid, Nitric Acid, Oxylic Acid, perchloride of mercury, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, hydrogen peroxide, Formaldehyde, phenol and sodium hypochlorite were already in the list.