IMPHAL, March 18 � After the banning of smoke-less tobacco, Manipur Government is taking steps to ban sale of Myanmar-made eatables in the State.
�We are taking up necessary steps to ban Myanmar eatables�, said Manipur Health Minister Phungzathang Tonsing. �In the recent past the State has decided to ban smoke-less tobacco�. The Minister was speaking after flagging off a half marathon �Run for your heart� here on Sunday.
Most of the Myanmar-made eatables which come into the State through the border town of Moreh, 110 km south of Imphal, does not have proper name of manufacturer, batch number, date of expiry, etc.
Even though experts have warned that people who drink alcohol or consume tobacco products habitually are at greater risk of heart attacks and heart failures, the consumption of these items are very high in Manipur, he lamented. Youngsters in hill districts smoke more than their peers in the valley, he said.
After the recent government decisions, the respective district administrations in Manipur have issued notifications to ban with immediate effect selling, manufacturing, distributing, displaying and purchasing of Zarda, Gutkha, Khaini, Pan Masala and other chewable, smoke-less tobacco containing tobacco or nicotine food ingredients by whatsoever name available in the market.
Following the State Health department�s memorandum/order, issued recently, the concerned district authorities issued notifications, saying that packaged food items without the name of manufacturer, batch number, date of expiry, etc., imported from Myanmar, like Mikko, Snacks, Milk and Milk products, pickles/Achar items (fruits and fishes) are also banned with immediate effect.
Violation of the order shall be liable for punishment and fine as per the provisions of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, the notification added.
