Citing growing occurrence of illnesses such as oral cancer, the Congress-led UDF administration in the state of Kerala placed a total ban on the fabrication and sale of gutka and paan masala containing tobacco with immediate effect.

Declaring the verdict at a press meeting, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy stated that the ban on gutka and paan masala having tobacco and nicotine was imposed under the provisions of Food Safety and Standards Regulation Act, 2011.

Kerala become the second state to banish the use of gutka and paan masala after the state of Madhya Pradesh.

Chandy stated that the escalating rate of gutka-induced problems had actuated the administration to ban the deadly products.

He added that the Commissioner of Food Safety (Kerala) had forwarded the notice banishing these products on May 22.

The administration would severely implement the ban and take sturdy action in case of any breach.

Chandy also said that he had written to PM Dr. Manmohan Singh looking for a total ban on these lethal products in the nation.

But, the Centre had responded last month that the states had the authority to place a ban on gutka and pan masala under the Food Safety and Standards Regulation Act, 2011.

The notice issued by the Commissioner disallows the production, storage, distribution and sale of these products, which have tobacco and nicotine, in whatsoever name it is obtainable in the market at the moment.