Bathinda, 9 September:- Following the directions issued by the state government, the Health Department, GST Department and Police Department jointly constituted two teams and conducted checking at various shops in the district. On this occasion, the teams instructed shopkeepers not to sell imported cigarettes without health warnings and e-cigarettes. They were warned that legal action would be taken against anyone found doing so.
Giving information in this regard, Civil Surgeon Dr. Tapinderjot said that the Health Department team included District Health Officer-cum-Tobacco Control Nodal Officer Dr. Usha Goyal and officials from the Food Safety and Drugs Branch. She said that a special checking campaign was conducted in Bathinda district regarding cigarettes being sold illegally and cigarettes available without the mandatory health warning on the packets.
District Health Officer Dr. Usha Goyal, who was part of the team, said that during the checking conducted under this campaign, shopkeepers and vendors were instructed to strictly comply with the rules and directions issued by the government regarding the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The teams specifically checked illegal cigarette products, those without mandatory health warnings and products violating the prescribed rules. She said that the use of tobacco products can cause several serious health problems, including cancer, heart diseases and respiratory diseases. Therefore, it is very important to regulate the sale and use of tobacco as per the rules.
Shopkeepers were appealed to comply with the rules prescribed by the government and not to sell illegal or tobacco products that violate the rules. They said that such joint checking campaigns will continue in the future as well and legal action will be taken against those violating the rules.