Government agencies not taking action against defaulters: study More than five months after the ban on use of plastic pouches for sale of tobacco products came into effect on March 1 this year, small and big manufacturers of pan masala and chewing tobacco are still violating the rule openly, a recent survey by Voluntary Health Association of India and eight other partners has found. The study conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Assam found that plastic pouches are widely sold and government agencies have not taken any action against the companies, traders or retailers selling them. “A total of 830 shops were visited for the survey. Brands were available in small, medium (7 gm) and big size pouches (15 gm to 40 gm). Gutka makers are using packets that has paper outside and plastic layer inside. Sometimes the thickness of the plastic is very less and it is difficult to separate the plastic layer and paper. There were many brands that were newly-packed and available in plastic packaging but the manufacturers are not printing the manufacturing date/ batch number so that they can flout the law easily,” noted a release issued by the Association. “All the samples that were collected were purchased at a higher rate of 50 to 100 per cent of the maximum retail price. When the vendors were asked about it they said they are purchasing it at a higher rate from the supplier, which shows there is black marketing of the products. In all, 830 tobacco vendors were interviewed and a majority said they were quite aware that selling gutka/ pan masala in plastic pouches is a punishable offence….Though checking was done, no one was penalised for selling gutka/ pan masala in plastic pouches,” added the release. Gutka makers using packets with paper outside and plastic layer inside Companies not printing manufacturing date/ batch number to flout law easily