- Maharashtra has banned the sale of loose cigarettes, beedis; becomes the first state to do so.
- The move is aimed at ensuring that customers see the graphic, public health warnings mandated on cigarette packaging.
The Maharashtra government has banned the sale of unpackaged “loose” cigarettes and beedis, making it the first Indian state to do so. The move is aimed at ensuring that customers see the graphic, public health warnings mandated on cigarette packaging.
A notification issued by the state public health department on Thursday states that in sync with subsection (2) of section 7 of Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply & Distribution) Act, 2003, the state imposes a complete ban on the sale of single stick loose cigarette and beedis. The notification is signed by the principal secretary (health) Dr. Pradeep Vyas.
About 85% of the cigarette packets contain a graphic warning about the health hazards that follow due to excessive consumption of tobacco, and this warning remains absent when consumers buy loose cigarettes. This has become the main reason behind the ban, which also extends to beedis.
Though met with strong criticism by the traders, an order has been passed regarding the same and all municipal corporations in the state have to now ensure that the sale of loose units of cigarettes and beedis does not take place in regions under their jurisdiction.
Maharashtra has the lowest smoking rate in the country, data from the Global Tobacco Youth Survey 2016 showed.
