Proposal for bringing manufacture of “Other Tobacco Products” such as Khaini, Tobacco blended Pan Masala, Hookah or Gooduku tobacco, Zarda, Bidis and other chewable/eatable tobacco related items under the ambit of compulsory licensing is under consideration with a view to address public health issues.

Initial stakeholder consultations were held with Central Board of Excise and Customs, Planning Commission, Department of Commerce, Tobacco Board, Ministry of Labour & Employment, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and office of Development Commissioner, Micro Small & Medium Enterprises.

Comments on the proposal have been sought from concerned Central Ministries/ Departments, State Governments and Union Territories. In addition, information of existing production capacity in respect of these items has also been sought for from the State Governments and Union Territories.

This information was given by the Commerce and Industry Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

Compulsory licensing for tobacco products proposed to regulate manufacture for public health, with stakeholder consultations and data requests. Proposal to extend compulsory licensing to manufacture of 'Other Tobacco Products' aims to address public health by making production conditional on government authorisation. Inter ministerial consultations were held and Central and State authorities were asked for comments and for information on existing production capacity as part of preparatory policy formulation.