Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry joins calls for a 30-day grace period, seeking clarity and relief over Nagaland's tobacco food products ban
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DIMAPUR — While backing the Nagaland government's decision to prohibit the sale of food products containing tobacco or nicotine, the Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has urged the authorities to adopt a more practical implementation approach by granting traders a 30-day grace period and issuing clear regulatory guidelines to prevent confusion and financial losses.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the KCCI acknowledged the June 4 notification issued by the department of Health and Family Welfare under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, banning the sale of food products containing tobacco or nicotine, including gutkha, pan masala and twin-pack chewable products.
According to the chamber, because enforcement began immediately with zero phase-out time, small retailers who had lawfully purchased and stocked these items under valid licenses are now facing direct financial hits.
It pointed out that under Indian law, business owners operating in good faith within a valid framework are entitled to a reasonable transition period.
Also read: Nagaland bans gutkha, tobacco-mixed food products for one year
Tobacco ban confusion: MCCI urges Nagaland government for clarity and buffer time
To prevent immediate penalties and allow an orderly sell-down or return of legally acquired existing stock, the KCCI requested the state government to officially sanction a one-month window from the date of their statement.
The KCCI also highlighted confusion over product classification, stating that cigarettes, beedis and loose tobacco are regulated under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and are not classified as food products under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) framework.
It claimed that these products fall outside the scope of the June 4 notification and alleged that enforcement agencies have, in some instances, treated COTPA-regulated products as prohibited under the food safety order, causing avoidable losses to traders.
The chamber urged the Kohima district administration and the department of Health and Family Welfare to issue a clear public order specifying which products are banned and which remain permissible to ensure lawful and targeted enforcement.
The KCCI further pointed to an administrative gap involving the Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), which had issued Tobacco Vendor Licences (TVLs) and collected licence fees before the notification came into effect.
Since the notification, however, the KMC has failed to issue updated guidance or offer any solution regarding the fees already paid for licenses that traders can no longer fully utilise, it stated and called upon the KMC to resolve this gap, either by providing a prorated refund of the balance TVL fees or formally recognising a limited sell-out window.
Among its key demands, the KCCI sought a 30-day grace period for retailers, a definitive clarification on products covered under the ban, a resolution on TVL fees, and the formation of a joint working group with KCCI representation to address implementation issues and field-level concerns.
The KCCI's appeal echoes a similar demand raised earlier by the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which had also sought a one-month transition period and greater clarity on the implementation of the state's tobacco and nicotine food products ban.