Shops can't sell both tobacco, candy: Centre

In an effort to deter children from getting addicted to tobacco, the Union Health Ministry has written to all states to develop mechanisms to ensure that shops which sell tobacco should not sell non-tobacco products like chocolates, candies or biscuits.

The ministry has emphasized that retail stores selling tobacco products should obtain licences, and such a condition should include the fact that they cannot sell any non-tobacco products.

DNA has accessed a letter written by Arun Kumar Jha, Economic Adviser, National Health Mission (NHM) to chief secretaries of all states, which says, "Regulation of tobacco products can be made more effective with the development of a mechanism to provide permission/authorization through Municipal Authority to the retail shops who are selling tobacco products."

It further states, "It would also be appropriate to make a condition/provision in the authorization that shops authorized for selling tobacco products, cannot sell any non-tobacco products such as toffees, candies, chips, biscuits, soft drinks, etc, which are essentially meant for non-user, especially children."

Experts believe that such an action will prevent shrewd marketing of tobacco to kids. "This order is a big blow to the marketing tactics of most tobacco companies from targetting kids. Many cigarette companies manufacture biscuits, chocolates, and many vendors store cigarettes along with such products popular among kids," said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, oncosurgeon, Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai.