Retailers oppose tobacco curbs

■ THE HEALTH MINISTRY had last year issued an advisory to state governments in September, asking them to allow selling of tobacco products from only shops authorised by local municipal body. New Delhi, July 17: Federation of Retailer Association of India on Tuesday said the Union health ministry’s advisory to ban sale of tobacco products in small shops selling everyday- use and FMCG products has severely affected lakhs of micro- retailers.

FRAI, which is an umbrella body of 40 retail associations, claimed that several shopkeepers in states such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand, UP were “facing harassment” over selling of tobacco products along with daily household usage products such as bread, eggs, soft drinks and juices.

The association also also hit out at controls on inshop advertising saying it will remove differentiation between retailers selling legal tobacco products and fly- by- night retailers selling smuggled tobacco products.

The health ministry had last year issued an advisory to state governments in September, asking them to allow selling of tobacco products from only shops authorised by local municipal body.

It had further suggested that these shops would not retail any non- tobacco products such as toffee, candy, chips, biscuits, soft drink which are essentially meant for children.

“We are appealing the Centre to reverse this suggestion. We are also asking it to issue notification to states to stop harassing retailers,” FRAI secretary Abhay Raj said.

He said if the suggested restrictions on the sale of FMCG products are implemented there could be a drop of 40 per cent earnings of micro- retailers.

FRAI president Asre Mishra said,” The introduction of restrictions for outlets selling multiple products of everyday use such as bread, eggs, juices, soft drinks and wafers along with tobacco products is restriction of free trade and commerce and will only increase the cost of doing business as rentseeking by inspectors would return”.