Acting on a report about the presence of magnesium carbonate in gutkha, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration on Saturday issued directives to various departments to cancel the licences of gutkha manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers in the state.

The report followed an FDA raided on about 20 premises in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane district during the week, Commissioner A Ramakrishnan told reporters in Mumbai.

The FDA said the ban would be seriously enforced from Sunday. It has also warned wholesale and retail dealers that their licences would be cancelled if they tried to sell adulterated product in the state.

Ramakrishnan said there were six manufacturing units in Maharashtra.

The FDA has also requested the Centre to carry out searches throughout the country. A meeting in this regard is expected to be held in Delhi on February 8, Ramakrishnan said.

Maharashtra had earlier banned the sale and distribution of Gutkha. However, manufacturers moved the Supreme Court, which lifted the ban in August last year.