Govt bans plastic sachets for gutka, tobacco

NEW DELHI: The ubiquitous gutka and tobacco sachets may soon disappear from paan shops across the country. With the Supreme Court leaning hard to curb use of plastics, the environment ministry on Monday banned the use of plastic in packaging of tobacco goods.

The order, which also bans provision of free plastic bags by shopkeepers, is bound to hit the gutka, pan masala and other tobacco products market hard with the small sachets likely to go out of business with the introduction of the rules.

Gutka and other non-smoking tobacco products being sold in plastic packages have been the major cause behind India's increasing mouth cancer cases. The recent adult tobacco use survey in India showed a tremendous rise in non-smoking tobacco use. The latest order may now cut down on chewing tobacco use by rendering gutka and other chewable tobacco products costlier for addicts. The order will also make logistics more difficult for tobacco manufacturers.

Read more: Govt bans plastic sachets for gutka, tobacco - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Govt-bans-plastic-sachets-for-gutka-tobacco/articleshow/7448478.cms#ixzz1DLp7HFgt