MUMBAI, December 4: The high-powered Central Committee on Food Standards (CCFS) has demanded a nationwide ban on gutkha and pan masala. Declaring the tobacco products as carcinogenic capable of causing oral cancer, the government body, chaired by the Director General Health Services, conveyed its views to the government through a resolution passed on November 27.

Anil Lakhina, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and a member of the CCFS said, ``The Committee is the apex body of experts authorised to take such a decision. After reviewing all the evidence on pan masala and gutkha, we came to the firm conclusion that the product is harmful.

It causes cancer. Therefore, we have recommended that it should be banned.'' Armed with this verdict, the government can now amend the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (1954) and empower the state governments to ban both products.

The CCFS resolution is significant, especially since the government cannot ignore the suggestions. However, anti-tobacco activists are sceptical and expressed doubts about an effective ban.

Dr P C Gupta, a cancer researcher and scientist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) said, ``There's many a slip between the cup and the lip. First, the ministry has to accept the demand, then the law has to be amended. Even if an order is passed, the pan masala makers will definitely move the courts. They are bound to take the matter up to the Supreme Court and that will take years.''

Faulty implementation is another pitfall, point out anti-tobacco activists. They cite the example of banned toothpastes laced with tobacco. The legal challenges to the ban dragged on for years as the manufacturers took appeals up to the Supreme Court. Months ago, the SC passed an order upholding the ban. But the banned toothpastes are freely available.

Scepticism about a real ban is also fuelled by the fact that pan masala is a money-spinner for the central and state governments. In the year 1990, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had estimated the Indian pan masala market to be worth Rs 20 billion. Today, the revenue department expects to net close to Rs 500 crore additional excise from the pan masala industry in the current financial year.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.