Nagpur: The Maharashtra government plans to clamp down on pan kiosks selling mavaa, the state`s minister of Food and Drug Administration Manohar Naik said here on Monday, as mixing of betel nut and tobacco is not allowed under the new law.
After the ban on gutkha in Maharashtra, the sale of mavaa has increased manifold, he said.
Naik, a NCP leader was in the city to interact with partymen and review his department`s work after its recent decision to ban gutkha and pan masala all over the state.
As a part of its ban on gutkha sale, he informed that the state sealed a gutkha factory at Jalna. "We have also raided several outlets, confiscating material worth lakhs of rupees. The seized material will be destroyed after court?s directives on August 16," he said.
The minister seemed confident that the ban will not be revoked. "Unlike last time when the gutkha ban under FDA Act (1954) could not stand in court, this time a stronger law framed by the Centre called Food Security and Standards Act (2009) would make the ban tenable," he said.
Meanwhile, the FDA is also gearing up to act against fruit dealers using chemicals like carbide gasses to artificially ripen bananas and other fruits.
As part of the modernisation of the FDA, the state government plans to set up new laboratories at several cities including Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Kolhapur, he said.
PTI
