Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 12: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced new packaging requirements for pan masala, ruling out the use of plastic, aluminium foil and metallised layers in its packaging.
The changes were notified through the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on Aug 10.
The amendment modifies the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, by adding pan masala as a new entry under Schedule 4, which specifies suggestive packaging materials.
Under the new provisions, pan masala can be packaged in paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials, provided they are completely free from plastic.
The packaging must not contain polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or any other synthetic polymers, copolymers or laminates.
The restrictions also extend to aluminium foil and metallised layers. Therefore, paper-based packaging containing plastic or metallised layers inside will not meet the specifications prescribed by FSSAI.
Manufacturers have also been permitted to use tin or glass containers for packaging pan masala. These have been listed separately as permitted packaging options under the new entry.
The amendment further provides that certain provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, will apply to pan masala packaging.
The regulations have come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
FSSAI issued the final amendment after completing a consultation process on the proposed changes. The authority had published the draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, on Apr 28, inviting objections and suggestions from people likely to be affected by the proposed regulations.
The draft was open for public feedback for 60 days. FSSAI said the objections and suggestions received during the consultation were considered before the final amendment was issued.
The notification was issued under the powers granted to FSSAI under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with the previous approval of the Central Government.
The amendment is specifically related to packaging regulations and does not impose a ban on pan masala as a product.
Instead, it adds pan masala to the packaging schedule and specifies the materials permitted for its packaging.
The new rules consequently shift the focus towards eliminating plastic-based materials from pan masala packaging. Manufacturers using paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials will have to ensure that they contain no plastic, synthetic polymer, copolymer or laminate and do not use aluminium foil or metallised layers.
Tin and glass containers remain the other packaging alternatives explicitly permitted by FSSAI.