Tobacco, nicotine gutkha and pan masala banned in Karnataka for one year
Bengaluru: Karnataka has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine across the state.
The order also covers other products containing tobacco or nicotine that are sold separately but are packaged or distributed in a way that allows consumers to mix them.
What does the Karnataka ban cover?
The ban applies to gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, regardless of the product's name or whether it is sold in packaged or unpackaged form.
It covers:
- Manufacture
- Storage
- Distribution
- Transportation
- Sale
The restrictions also apply to products marketed separately when their final mixture contains tobacco or nicotine.
Why has Karnataka imposed the ban?
The Commissioner of Food Safety, Karnataka State, cited public health concerns while issuing the notification.
The order was issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with the relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
When does the ban take effect?
The notification is dated June 15, 2026, and states that the restriction will remain in force for one year from the date of notification.
The ban covers products sold in sachets, pouches, packages, containers or other forms.
During the ban period, businesses cannot manufacture, stock, transport, distribute or sell gutkha or pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine in Karnataka.
The wider wording of the order also seeks to prevent sellers from offering separate products in a way that effectively allows consumers to mix them and create a prohibited tobacco-containing product.