The Central Arecanut and Cocoa Marketing and Processing Cooperative (Campco) Ltd has said that the Karnataka government’s notification to ban ‘gutkha’ and ‘paan masala’ in the State should not result in unintended consequences for arecanut growers or the legitimate arecanut trade. The enforcement of the notification should remain focused on the prohibited products and should not result in unintended consequences for arecanut growers or the legitimate arecanut trade,” he said. Arecanut growers should not be made to bear the consequences arising from the use or misuse of their agricultural produce in tobacco- or nicotine-containing products, he added. Karnataka’s GST collection from the sale of arecanut and arecanut-based products stood at ₹90.02 crore during the first quarter of 2026-27. Arecanut growers should not be put into difficulties in the name of action against prohibited products.