MCCI seeks clarity on 1-year ban on tobacco

DIMAPUR, JUN 8 (NPN): Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has sought clarification from the state government on the implementation of the recently announced one-year ban on all food products containing tobacco or nicotine, while urging authorities to provide businesses with a reasonable transition period to avoid heavy financial losses.
In a press release, MCCI said it appreciated the government’s public health objectives and respected the directions of the Supreme Court of India. However, the chamber expressed concern over the absence of a clearly specified date from which the prohibition would take effect.
According to MCCI, the notification states that the ban would remain in force for one year across Nagaland, but lack of an effective date has created uncertainty among traders, wholesalers, stockists and retailers. The chamber urged the responsible authorities to consider the practical realities of business operations. It cautioned that an abrupt implementation would instantly render existing inventories unsellable and could adversely affect the state’s business environment.
MCCI also maintained that policy decisions with significant economic implications should ideally be preceded by consultation with stakeholders to avoid unintended consequences and support the state’s ease-of-doing-business objectives.
Highlighting the potential impact on the trading community, the chamber requested that businesses be given at least one month to dispose of affected stocks, either by returning products to suppliers or through other approved mechanisms.
It further cautioned that immediate enforcement could result in losses running into crores of rupees for retailers, distributors and wholesalers across the state.
Assuring its cooperation with the government, MCCI also questioned the long-term effectiveness of the prohibition.
It argued that successful implementation would depend on market realities, enforcement capacity and behavioural change among consumers.
The chamber also warned that the ban could encourage the emergence of black-market suppliers, thus potentially creating greater public health risks and undermining the objective of the notification.
MCCI has, therefore, urged the authorities to ensure that traders were not subjected to harassment, arbitrary penalties or coercive enforcement measures. It called upon the government to urgently address the ambiguities surrounding the notification and provide clear guidelines to facilitate smooth implementation.
Stressing that public health and economic well-being were equally important, the chamber said it supported measures aimed at protecting public health but urged the government to implement them in a manner that was practical, transparent and fair to legitimate businesses.