Kohima: The Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has formally requested that the Nagaland government provide a 30-day grace period for small retailers to clear or return existing stocks of banned tobacco products. The appeal follows a June 4 enforcement action by the Department of Health and Family Welfare that immediately prohibited gutkha, pan masala, and twin-pack chewable tobacco without a transition phase.
While the KCCI supports the legal validity of the ban under the Food Safety and Standards Act, it argues that shop owners who legally purchased these items need time to liquidate their inventory. The Chamber emphasized that traders who operated within the law deserve consideration, stating, "Traders who acted in good faith within a valid regulatory framework are entitled to a reasonable transition before enforcement takes effect."
Concerns have also emerged regarding the scope of the enforcement. The KCCI noted that authorities are incorrectly targeting products regulated by the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, such as cigarettes and beedis, which fall outside the scope of the food safety notification. The organization is calling for a clear public order that explicitly distinguishes between banned items and those that remain legally permissible to prevent the unlawful seizure of goods.
Furthermore, the KCCI is challenging the Kohima Municipal Council regarding Tobacco Vendor Licences issued prior to the ban. Because the council has failed to provide guidance on fees already collected for licenses that are now effectively void, the Chamber is demanding either a prorated refund or a formal window to sell existing stock. To address these issues, the KCCI has proposed the formation of a joint working group with state authorities to oversee the transition and handle field-level queries.
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