Karnataka bans sale of gutka, pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine for one year
The Karnataka government has issued a one-year ban on the manufacture, sale, and distribution of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine. This regulation applies to all forms of these products, whether packaged or unpackaged, to protect public health.
Why it matters
This policy directly impacts public health initiatives and the retail landscape for tobacco products in the state of Karnataka.
The Karnataka government has prohibited the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of gutkha, pan masala and other products containing tobacco or nicotine across the State for a period of one year.
The notification was issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Karnataka, on June 15, 2026, under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011.
The ban covers gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco and/or nicotine, besides any other products marketed separately that contain tobacco or nicotine in the final product, irrespective of the name under which they are sold.
The prohibition applies to both packaged and unpackaged products. It also covers products packed separately but sold or distributed in a manner that facilitates their easy mixing by consumers.
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