MUMBAI, JAN 18: Maharashtra has decided to move the Centre to amend the Food Adulteration (Prevention) Act, seeking immediate ban on consumption and sale of Gutkha in the entire state.``No doubt, following the ban, we will lose quite a large amount of revenue as sales tax, but it was essential to take a drastic step for protecting the health of the society and also from preventing the younger generation from becoming Gutkha addicts,'' Health Minister Daulatrao Aher told The Indian Express.Aher said the government has drafted a comprehensive amendment to the Food Adulteration (Prevention) Act, 1954, and Maharashtra Food Adulteration (Prevention) Rules, 1962, which will be forwarded to the Central Committee for Food Standards. ``Since the original law is a Central legislation, it is necessary to take a permission from the Centre. In view of the ill-effects of consumption of Gutkha, I think the Centre will concede our proposal,'' Aher said.Aher said following in-depth analysis of the samples ofGutkha by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it was revealed that they contained magnesium carbonate, used as anti-caking agent and nicotine (0.67 to 2.36 per cent). The FDA also found that 82 samples of Gutkha were substandard.``The consumption of these two items is injurious to health. Besides, studies conducted by leading organisations have revealed that in 90 per cent of the cases, cancer was caused by consumption of Gutkha or tobacco,'' Aher, who is also a qualified surgeon, said.The Health Minister said when the proposal for imposing a ban on consumption and sale of Gutkha was being discussed, the question of loss of revenue also figured prominently. According to records, if the ban is imposed, the loss of revenue will be to the extent of Rs 18.16 crore for the State and Rs 49.91 crore to the Centre towards the excise duty. ``Out of the 400 Gutkha manufacturers in the country, 20 are in Maharashtra and their turnover is estimated at Rs 179 crore, while 1050 persons are involved in manufactureand distribution of Gutkha,'' Aher pointed out.``Since it is adversely affects the health of persons consuming Gutkha, we should ignore the loss of revenue, which can be recovered from other avenues,'' Aher added. The Health Minister said there was no sales tax on tobacco-based Gutkha as of now. ``We are charging five per cent luxury tax on Gutkha, while we are levying 13 per cent sales tax on Pan Masala. Studies by leading research institutions have revealed consumption of both can cause oral cancer,'' he said.Replying to a question, Aher said mere banning the sale of Gutkha will not serve the purpose as there is no agency to implement such a prohibitory order effectively. ``Under such circumstances, consumption as well as sale of Gutkha should be banned,'' he observed.
