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Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Smokeless Tobacco(STA), in its petition has challenged the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011

New Delhi: Manufacturers of 'pan masala' have moved the Delhi High Court seeking quashing of the Centre's regulations restricting them from producing and selling their products which contained nicotine and tobacco. Smokeless Tobacco Association (STA), in its petition before a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Rajiv Shakdher, has challenged the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on August one. The regulation is affecting the rights of manufacturers as they produce, sell and distribute products like chewing tobacco, 'gutkha', 'pan masala' and other products under a special law, the petition said.
The STA claimed to have at least 20 manufacturers as its members.

"Regulation 2, 3 and 4 are contrary and in contravention of the scheme to the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply Distribution) Act, 2003 which is a special enactment governing the tobacco and cigarette industry," the petition said and sought quashing of the regulation.

 `Pan Masala` manufacturers move HC against Centre
The STA said the industry contributes over Rs 3,000 crore to the exchequer and employs 30 million people.
The manufacturers allege harassment at the hands of government officials after the regulations came into force on August five.

The officials have started punitive action against traders, the plea said and sought to restrain them from taking any action against them till the court decides the petition.
The bench would hear it on January 12.

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