Gujarat Extends Ban on Tobacco-Containing Gutkha and Pan Masala for Another Year
Gujarat has extended its ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine for another year. The renewed prohibition will be in effect from September 13, 2026, until September 12, 2027, according to a notification issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety.
The ban, which has been enforced in Gujarat since 2012, covers all such products regardless of the name under which they are marketed. It also applies to ingredients sold separately that, when mixed, are intended to prepare gutkha or pan masala as the final product containing tobacco or nicotine. Authorities have warned that strict legal action will be taken against violators.
The decision to extend the ban was made considering the protection of citizens' health and following representations from various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), according to a press release from the Chief Minister's Office. The notification cites research conducted by Tata Memorial Hospital, the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, and 'HAMER', which indicated that consumption of gutkha and pan masala is carcinogenic and significantly increases the risk of oral cancer. It also references findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), which reported that 35% of adults in India consume tobacco, with 21% using smokeless tobacco.
The state government has maintained this prohibition for over a decade, with the current extension ensuring the ban remains in force without a break. Enforcement agencies have been directed to take action against any violations of the order.
In a related development, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, addressing the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027 – Curtain Raiser, extended an open invitation to investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from India and abroad to establish operations in the state. He highlighted Gujarat's industrial planning, which focuses on long-term economic drivers, and noted that six of the 12 semiconductor plants approved in India are located in Gujarat, with three already operational. Patel also pointed to Dholera as India's first smart industrial city and GIFT City as a hub for fintech and global finance, alongside the state's sector-specific industrial policies, including a unique data centre policy and frameworks for semiconductors, IT/ITeS, green hydrogen, Global Capability Centres, and shipbuilding and repair.