Dimapur, June 8 (MExN): The Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has sought clarification and a transition period for businesses following a notification issued by the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare (DHFW), Government of Nagaland, prohibiting the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of food products containing tobacco and nicotine, including gutkha and pan masala with tobacco or nicotine, in the state.
A press release from the MCCI stated that while it appreciated the concerns raised by the DHFW and respected the directions of the Supreme Court, it requested the concerned authority to clarify the date on which the notification would come into effect.
The chamber noted that the notification, issued on June 2, 2026 under the authority of the Commissioner of Food Safety and Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, stated that the prohibition would remain in force for one year across the state but did not explicitly specify its effective date.
According to the MCCI, the absence of a clear implementation date has created confusion among the public, particularly within the business community.
The chamber further urged the authorities to consider the realities of business operations, stating that an abrupt implementation would render several products contraband overnight.
"Such an approach is not business-friendly and would adversely affect the economic health of the state," the MCCI stated, adding that notifications issued without prior consultation with stakeholders often lead to counterproductive outcomes and could undermine the state's ease of doing business initiatives.
Highlighting the impact on retailers, stockists and wholesalers, the MCCI requested that businesses be given at least one month's time to dispose of prohibited products by returning them to suppliers or through other appropriate means.
"Otherwise, businesses could incur substantial losses running into crores of rupees, adversely affecting the economic health of the state," it stated.
While expressing its willingness to cooperate with the government, the MCCI said the success of the notification would depend on market realities, supply and demand dynamics, enforcement capacity and broader behavioural change.
The chamber cautioned that despite the government's intentions, the prohibition could prove ineffective and risk becoming "another failed prohibition, much like the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act."
It also warned that one unintended consequence could be the emergence of dubious suppliers operating in the black market, potentially creating greater public health concerns and undermining the objectives of the prohibition.
The MCCI maintained that prohibiting certain products in the interest of public health "may be the right thing to do," but stressed that implementation should be carried out in a practical and fair manner.
The chamber also requested the authorities to ensure that traders are not subjected to unnecessary harassment, undocumented fines or coercive measures targeting legitimate businesses. It further urged the concerned departments to address and clarify the issues and ambiguities raised at the earliest.
