Gutka sale restricted, Pran Litchi drink banned

Morung Express News
September 9

DIMAPUR: Taking into consideration the safety of public health, the Director of Health Service, Government of Nagaland today issued back to back notification restricting the sale of talab ghutka and other betel nuts with tobacco near school premises. In a second notification, health authorities also banned the sale of Pran Litchi drink with immediate effect.

Reminding about an earlier notification issued last year on August 27, whereby the sale of Talab Ghutka and other betel nuts with tobacco was prohibited near school premises, the State health authorities have again reminded that selling of Talab Ghutka and Pan Masalas near school premises will be penalized as per Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act & Rules.

An amount of Rs.5000/- will be penalized for first offence and double the amount on second offence with cancellation of PFA Licence, according to the latest notification issued by Dr V.Sekhose, Director of Health Services. The amount will be deposited by the concerned Civil Surgeon & Local (Health) Authority to the Government Treasury it was informed.

The Proprietors/ Principals/ Headmaster & Headmistress of schools have been requested to report to the office of the Civil Surgeon & Local (Health) Authority in their respective districts if food item dealers in their school premises are found selling Talab Ghutka or any Pan Masalas.

The latest notification issued in the interest of public health also pointed out that consumption of such products as detected by some Dentist was causing pre-cancerous symptoms. 

In another notification as per the Nagaland Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1985, the State Food (Health) Authority & Director of Health Services has “prohibited the sale, exposure for sale, offer for sale, store for sale or distribution of Pran Litchi Drink, a product of Agricultural Marketing Co. Ltd., Dhaka, Bangladesh, imported by Priti Ranjan Chanda, Silchar, with immediate effect. The general public have been informed to be aware on similar misbranded food stuffs.