Effective use of Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 to prevent the sale of tobacco products along with food items in supermarkets: A case study from Punjab

Background In India, Tobacco products have been openly sold along with the food item such as candies, chips, biscuits and soft drinks etc., which are frequently used by children. Under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, a licensed food vendor can’t sell the tobacco products along with food items to prevent children exposure to Tobacco products. Methods Based on the advisory issued by Commissioner-Food Administration regarding sale of tobacco products along with food items, a complaint was received by the District Tobacco Control cell, Punjab citing violation being done by the supermarkets in one district of state on 28th June 2017. On 29th June 2017, a meeting was held to constitute a special act enforcement team. Results After conducting the investigation, the enforcement team found the owner of the supermarket guilty of violation under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, thus Food License of the supermarket was suspended. Following this tobacco products were removed from all the supermarkets in the state of Punjab. Conclusions Strong interdepartmental co-ordination, regular enforcements drives have been the reinforcers in preventing the sale of tobacco products along with food items, thus reducing the probability child exposure to tobacco products. Funding National Tobacco Control Programme, Punjab