New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked top officials to assess the impact of a complete ban on foreign direct investment (FDI) in tobacco, two government officials said.

At a meeting late last month, the principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) to examine the implications of this proposal on tobacco farmers, particularly in the country's major tobacco-producing states, before a final decision is taken. The meeting was attended by DPIIT secretary Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and representatives of the revenue department.

FDI is already prohibited in the manufacturing of cigarettes, cigar...