Pramesh S Jain
The Karnataka government has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture,storage,transportation,distribution and sale of gutka,pan masala and other food products containing tobacco and/or nicotine across the state, citing public health concerns.
The Food Safety Division of the Department of Food Safety and Drugs Administration issued the notification on August 10,2026,under Section 30(2)(a)of the Food Safety and Standards Act,2006,read with Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards(Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales)Regulations, 2011.
The prohibition will remain in force for one year from the date of issuance and covers the sale and distribution of prohibited tobacco- and nicotine-containing products.
However, the notification does not impose a ban on consumption of such products.
Following the order,the Food Safety Division has launched special inspection and enforcement drives across Karnataka.
Food Safety Officers are conducting checks against the manufacture,storage,transportation,distribution and sale of prohibited products.
Officials said enforcement action would be taken against those found violating the ban.
The department has appealed to the public to report the manufacture,sale or distribution of prohibited tobacco and nicotine products to the concerned authorities and cooperate with the government’s efforts to build a “healthy and addiction-free Karnataka.”
