Uttarakhand Bans Tobacco and Nicotine-Based Gutkha for One Year

In a major move to protect public health, the Uttarakhand government has imposed a one-year ban on gutkha, pan masala and other similar products containing tobacco or nicotine. The order was issued on October 13, 2026, by Vinay Shankar Pandey, Commissioner of the Food Safety and Drug Administration.

Under the order, the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of tobacco- and nicotine-containing products covered by the ban have been prohibited across all districts of Uttarakhand.

Ban Imposed to Protect Public Health

According to the government order, the decision has been taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.

The prohibition will remain in force for one year from the date of issuance of the order. The measure aims to strengthen public health protection and prevent the sale of food products containing prohibited substances.

Action Against Violations

The administration stated that although the use of tobacco and nicotine in food products is prohibited under the applicable food safety regulations, instances of their use in products such as gutkha and pan masala continue to come to light.

To address the issue, the state government has decided to enforce the restrictions more strictly and prevent the manufacture and sale of such products.

The ban will apply to the specified tobacco- or nicotine-containing food products regardless of the name or brand under which they are marketed. It covers the entire supply chain, from manufacturing and storage to distribution and retail sales.

With this decision, the Uttarakhand government aims to curb the availability of prohibited tobacco- and nicotine-containing products and safeguard public health across the state.