Puducherry,June 26: Gutkha and paan masala have been banned in the Union Territory with immediate effect.
An order banning the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of 'gutkha and paanmasala' and other food products having tobacco and nicotine as ingredients was issued on June 18 by Commissioner of Food Safety G Ragesh Chandra,
official sources said today.
The ban under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, a central act, would be in force for one year and had been imposed in the interest of public health.
Any violation of the ban order would entail action under the criminal law.
