Uttarakhand Bans Manufacture and Sale of Tobacco- and Nicotine-Laced Gutkha, Pan Masala for One Year
Food Safety Commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey issues statewide order citing public health concerns
Dehradun, October 13, 2026: The Uttarakhand government has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha, pan masala and other food products containing tobacco and nicotine across the state. The order was issued on October 13, 2026, by Vinay Shankar Pandey, Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttarakhand.
According to the order, the prohibition will remain in force across Uttarakhand for one year from the date of issuance. The measure has been introduced in the interest of public health, with the aim of restricting food products containing tobacco and nicotine.
Ban Imposed Under Food Safety Regulations
The order refers to the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, including Section 26 and Section 92(2)(i), along with Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
Regulation 2.3.4 prohibits the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in food products. The order notes that gutkha and pan masala fall under the category of food products and that the use of tobacco and nicotine in such products raises public health concerns.
Statewide Restrictions on Manufacture, Storage and Sale
Under the order, gutkha, pan masala and other food products containing tobacco and nicotine will be covered by the prohibition, regardless of the name under which they are marketed.
The restrictions apply to their manufacture, storage, distribution and sale throughout Uttarakhand for a period of one year from the date the order was issued.
Section 30(2) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, empowers the State Food Safety Commissioner to prohibit the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of food articles in the interest of public health, either in a specific part of the state or across the entire state, for the prescribed period.
Copies Sent to District and Health Officials
Copies of the order have been forwarded to the Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand, the Secretary of Medical Health and Medical Education, the Director General of Medical Health and Family Welfare, all District Magistrates and Chief Medical Officers, and the relevant officials of the Food Safety and Drug Administration for information and necessary action.
A copy has also been sent to the Director of Printing and Stationery, Uttarakhand, for publication in the official government gazette.
