Karnataka has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco and/or nicotine across the State, citing public health concerns.
The ban was issued through a notification dated June 15, 2026, by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Karnataka State. The order has been issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, along with relevant regulations governing the prohibition and restriction of food sales.
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The restriction covers gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, including products marketed under other names but containing either substance in their final form. The ban applies to both packaged and unpackaged products.
The notification also covers products sold separately but packaged in a manner that allows consumers to easily mix them. Gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine and packed in sachets, pouches, packages or containers are specifically included.
The order was issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration in Bengaluru and will remain in force for one year.
