Karnataka Bans Gutkha, Pan Masala With Tobacco for One Year

The Karnataka government has imposed a one-year statewide ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation, and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine. The order, issued by the Department of Food Safety and Drug Administration, took effect on August 10, 2026, and targets both premixed products and those sold in separate sachets intended to be combined by consumers.

The notification, issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, aims to close a long-standing regulatory loophole. For years, the tobacco industry has circumvented previous restrictions by selling pan masala and chewing tobacco in separate packets, allowing consumers to mix them and bypass the intent of earlier bans. This new order explicitly prohibits any products marketed separately that contain tobacco or nicotine in the final product, regardless of their name or packaging.

Officials stated that special inspection and enforcement operations are being conducted under the leadership of Food Safety Officers. These operations will target the entire supply chain, from manufacturing to retail sale. Violations could result in investigations and legal action. The department has...