Maha govt includes manufactured chewable tobacco in ban

Maharashtra government has banned sale, purchase and storage of manufactured chewable tobacco, and extended the ban on other tobacco variants for a period of one year. "In the interest of public health, manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of tobacco and areca nut (betel nut) which is either flavoured, scented or mixed with any of the said additives and whether going by the name or form of gutkha, pan masala, flavoured scented tobacco, flavoured/ scented supari, manufactured chewing tobacco with additives, kharra, mawa has been prohibited for a period of one year from July 20, 2015," Food Safety Commissioner Dr Harshadeep Kamble said. The government has also included sale, purchase and storage of manufactured chewable tobacco in the ban, he added.