Maharashtra FDA seizes cigarettes worth Rs 273 crore

Mumbai, April 6: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has seized cigarettes worth Rs 273 crore from several parts of the state for alleged violation of the Centre's new rule on the size of health warnings on packets.

FDA joint commissioner Harish Baijal said the seizures happened on Monday in a series of coordinated raids across Maharashtra.

As per directives issued by the Union Health Ministry, 85 per cent display area of the cigarette packet should be covered with health warning consisting of picture and text.

On the seized cigarette packs, FDA found the pictorial warnings covered only 45 per cent of the surface area. "There was information about the old packets still in circulation in various parts of the state," Baijal said.

PTI