New Delhi, July 19 (KNN) The union health ministry's ban on selling of tobacco along with everyday products is being opposed by several retailers.

The retailers' representative body, Federation of Retailers Association of India (FRAI) said that the ban has severely affected lakh of micro-retailers as retailers are not allowed to sell tobacco with everyday use and FMCG products.

The association further claimed that several shopkeepers in states such as Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh 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 hit out at controls on in-shop 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 authorized 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.