THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Close on the heels of the ban on the sale of nicotine chewing gums in the state, the Commissionerate of food safety will launch joint drives in coordination with the police, social justice department and education department to ensure the ban.
The Commissionerate has already held discussions with the state nodal officer of the student police cadet project P. Vijayan in this regard.
Commissionerate of food safety T.V. Anupama said that letters would be given to these departments seeking their support to impose the ban.
She said that the nicotine gum has turned into an addiction among youths and students which was a serious matter of concern.
“We have received plenty of complaints on addiction among school kids to nicotine chewing gum. It is easily available and since the ban on pan masala and gutka, many are depending on these tablets which are not a healthy practice,” said Anupama.
She said that most of the addiction cases among children were coming to school management committees, student police cadets and other organisations.
“But they don’t know whom to report to when such cases come to them. Hence we have decided to inform them of the ban and draw up an action plan to impose the ban,” said Anupama.
Nicotine chewing gum is prescribed by doctors to help people quit smoking and can be purchased only with a valid prescription.
