Government Says Gutkha, Pan masala come under food category

State government says one year ban on manufacture and sale of gutkha and paan masala, on Tuesday told the Bombay High Court that the two products come under the ‘food’ category under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006.

Five gutkha manufacturers had challenged the state government’s notification of July 19 banning the manufacture, distribution, storage and sale of gutkha-paan masala. The ban has been invoked under the FSSA.

The affidavit by Advocate General D J Khambata and government pleader D A Nalavade stated that manufacturers, while insisting that the central legislation would cover the sale of gutkha and paan masala, “have ignored the mandate of a later special statute. The FSSA, also enacted by the Centre, has an overriding effect over all other laws”.