Tamil Nadu bans pan masala, gutka production, sale

Production and sale of gutka, pan masala and edible tobacco products has been banned in Tamil Nadu to prevent cancer, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa announced in the assembly Wednesday.

She said that the government has decided to ban production, storage, distribution and sale of gutkha and pan masala in the state.

The products were banned for five years during her earlier regime in 2001. However, the Supreme Court quashed the order, saying that only the central government had the power to impose such a ban. - IANS