The Coimbatore District (Rural) Police and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) have launched a joint operation to crack down on the sale of banned tobacco products in the state. Till Wednesday, the police and FSSAI have taken action against 74 traders of the district.
According to District Superintendent of Police V. Badrinarayan, a shop was sealed by the food regulator after it was found selling banned tobacco products for the third time. FSSAI imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 each on 66 shops for being found selling gutka for the first time. He said seven traders found selling banned substances for the second time have been fined Rs 10,000 each.
While the police register cases against offenders under the provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (COTPA) Act, the FSSAI uses its power to fine the offenders for the first or second time and seal the shop if caught. does. third time.
It was found that the persons selling banned tobacco products did not deviate from the case registered by the police under the COTPA Act as bail is easily granted for seizure of banned substance in small quantities. However, the penalty imposed by FSSAI is a blow to their revenue.
“If a trader sells 30 packets of gutkha per day at a margin of ₹50, he can earn ₹1,500. But the fine imposed for the first offense is ₹5,000 which is a huge amount for small traders,” said Mr. Badrinarayan.
According to the SP, the joint operation with FSSAI was to curb the trade of banned tobacco products at the retail level. He said that the police are running separate campaigns to crack down on wholesale trade and stocking.
FSSAI designated officer for Coimbatore district K Tamilselavan said the food safety officers are extending their support to the police for the joint operation apart from their routine inspection and other enforcement work. “Along with the police, we have sealed a shop in Ettimadai after it was found selling gutka for the third time,” he said.