The Karnataka government has banned gutkha and pan masalas prepared with tobacco or nicotine for one year in the State. The order puts a ban on the manufacturing, storage, transport and sale of the products, alleging public health concerns, across Karnataka.
The notification dated 15th June 2026 is issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Karnataka State. This ban is in force under the provisions of the ‘Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006′ and the relevant regulations issued in the name of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulation, 2011’.
What does the Ban prohibit?
The order shall apply to gutkha and pan masala produced with the addition of tobacco or nicotine irrespective of their marketing/packaging details.
It also includes items that are sold separately and contain tobacco/nicotine as a final ingredient.
Restrictions will be in effect on both wrapped and unwrapped products where they:
- Distributed in poly packages/sachets/pouches, packages or containers.
- Packaged or unpackaged
- Sold separately
- Available for sale individually so the end user can combine them conveniently
It also permits manufacturers and sellers to find no way around the restriction if they market tobacco or nicotine containing parts separately which are due to be combined by the consumers themselves.
Ban Comes Into Effect Immediately
The ban would go county by county throughout the state; the ban would be in effect for a one-year period from the date of notification.
Pro-channeling the produce of tobacco used in gutkha and pan masalas, the Karnataka government cited public health concerns in its move.
The order is part of the state’s initiative to curb the availability of tobacco and nicotine containing products and concerns surrounding their use.