In an order to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), the Haryana food and drug administration department on Wednesday put a ban on the sale and use of chewing and bubble gum in the state till June 30. It has been decided on the suspicion that their use and disposal may lead to the transmission of coronavirus.
As per the order issued by the department’s commissioner Ashok Kumar Meena, there is a possibility that a piece of chewing gum could spread the virus as the novel coronavirus is transmitted through droplets.
The decision has been taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. An official said, “It is a precautionary step to avoid transmission of coronavirus. People have the habit of spitting which has to be avoided. To control the situation the prohibition has been imposed for some time.”
Meanwhile, the department has also asked to implement the ban on gutka (chewing tobacco) and pan masala for a year. In 2019, the state government had imposed a ban on the sale and distribution of tobacco products.
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Likewise, the department has been asked to check the sale and distribution of scented or flavored tobacco, gutkha, pan masala, and kharra. the shops and market will be inspected to prevent the sale of any of these items for at least three months, the official added.
-PTC News