Assam first State to legally ban smokeless tobacco

Assam has become the first state to legally ban consumption and sale of all forms of smokeless tobacco, including pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine.The Act came into effect last month. State Health minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the legislative assembly that Governor JB Patnaik had given assent to the Assam Health (Prohibition of manufacturing, advertisement, trade, storage, distribution, sale and consumption of zarda, gutkha, pan masala, etc, containing tobacco and/or nicotine) Bill, 2013. Though several States have imposed similar bans under the food safety regulation, Assam will be the first to impose the ban through legislature. The State Government decided to take this step after considering the fact that smokeless tobacco accounts for 90% of oral cancers.