The Odisha government has announced a comprehensive ban on all tobacco and nicotine-based products, including gutka, pan masala, zarda, khaini, and similar items, as part of a major public health intervention. The prohibition covers the entire value chain, extending to the manufacturing, storage, transportation, trade, and sale of these products across the state.
The decision aligns with directives issued by the Supreme Court of India and guidelines of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. As per Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, the ban applies to all oral tobacco products, whether chewable or smokable, and includes items sold in packaged or unpackaged forms, flavoured or scented, as single units or bundled packets, and under any brand or local name. Any food item containing tobacco or nicotine, irrespective of its form, has also been prohibited.
Officials stated that the notification leaves no scope for rebranding or exploitation of loopholes, effectively preventing the sale of disguised or renamed tobacco products. The new order replaces an earlier notification issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department on January 3, 2013, which had failed to fully curb the circulation of tobacco-flavoured products in the market despite segregation measures.
The government cited serious public health concerns behind the move, noting that the availability and consumption of tobacco and nicotine products pose significant risks. Health experts have consistently linked smokeless tobacco to a high incidence of oral and throat cancers, along with severe damage to internal organs. Children and young people have been identified as particularly vulnerable, as early exposure often leads to long-term addiction and associated health complications.
