The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Advertising and marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd has urged the Maharashtra Chief Minister to deal with the long-standing subject of the prohibition of flavoured supari merchandise in Maharashtra that was imposed in 2013.
In a letter to the Maharashtra CM, Devendra Fadnavis, the Campco President, A Kiran Kumar Kodgi, mentioned Campco’s flavoured supari merchandise absolutely adjust to the Meals Security and Requirements Act and are distinct from dangerous merchandise equivalent to tobacco, ‘gutkha’ or ‘paan masala’.
The prohibition is inflicting undue hardship to farmers, merchants, and small companies, regardless of these merchandise adhering to all regulatory requirements and being legally manufactured and bought throughout the remainder of India, he mentioned.
The distinction
Explaining the distinction between ‘paan masala’ and flavoured supari, Kodgi mentioned definition beneath GST tariff specifies ‘paan masala’ because the one that features betel nuts with lime, catechu, or tobacco. Flavoured supari is betel nut powder, often known as supari, that comprises betel nuts with out lime, catechu, or tobacco.
Whereas ‘paan masala’ faces authorized challenges beneath Meals Security Requirements rules, flavoured supari is absolutely compliant with Meals Security Requirements Act and never prohibited in different States, he mentioned.
‘Paan masala’ comprises magnesium carbonate and different brokers in violation of FSS rules, whereas flavoured supari doesn’t use magnesium carbonate or any prohibited brokers, he mentioned.
To make sure high quality, compliance and client security, Campco has proposed the regulatory requirements for flavoured supari. Campco mentioned product should adhere to all Meals Security and Requirements rules; and it shouldn’t include any elements related to ‘paan masala’ or ‘gutkha’, equivalent to tobacco, nicotine, lime (‘chuna’) or catechu (‘katha’). It additionally mentioned that synthetic sweeteners, if used, ought to adjust to regulatory limits.
Hits Maharashtra farmers extra
Kodgi mentioned Maharashtra cultivates arecanut throughout greater than 3,000 hectares, producing roughly 5,000 tonnes yearly. The prohibition on flavoured supari adversely impacts the livelihoods of those farmers and disrupts the uniform legislative framework envisioned beneath the Meals Security and Requirements Act, 2006.
The Campco President urged the Maharashtra Chief Minister to carry the prohibition on flavoured supari, making certain truthful alternatives for Maharashtra’s arecanut farmers and companies whereas upholding regulatory compliance.
“We’re assured within the Chief Minister’s management and his assist in safeguarding the pursuits of the farming group. Campco stays dedicated to working with authorities to make sure protected and controlled practices in arecanut product manufacturing,” he mentioned.
