SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 16: The Jharkhand government has extended the ban on 11 brands of Pan Masala for one more year in the interest of public health under the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006.
Jharkhand Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Singh, who also holds posts of health secretary and food commissioner health, has issued a notification regarding the extension of the ban on the manufacturing, storage, distribution and sale of 11 brands of Pan Masala for one more year.
The food commissioner has issued the notification based on laboratory reports which found 11 brands of Pan Masala containing magnesium carbonate as an ingredient in it.
“In 2019-20, a total of 41 samples of different Pan Masalas were collected under the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 in which 11 brands were found containing magnesium carbonate as an ingredient. So, in the interest of public health, the ban has been continued for one more year,” said notification stated.
The eleven brands of Pan Masala that have been banned for one more year are Pan Parag, Shikhar Pan Masala, Rajnigandha, Dilruba, Raj Niwas, Musafir, Madhu, Bimal, Bahar Pan Masala, Sehrat Brand Pan Masala and Pan Parag Premium.
In the wake of the Food Commissioner’s notification, Dhanbad SDM Prem Kumar Tiwari on Friday evening issued the order saying that the health department has extended the ban on 11 brands of Pan Masala for one more year. Action would be initiated if any person is found manufacturing, storing, distributing or selling these items.
The SDM has also ordered retailers of Pan Masala to get them destroyed immediately if they have stored the items in their shops. Otherwise, if they are caught in surprise inspections of the flying squad then legal action under different Sections of the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006 will be taken against them besides a monetary fine.
The SDM has set up a flying squad to ensure that no shop sells tobacco products within a 100-metre radius near schools.
