FSSAI Proposes Plastic-Free Packaging Norms for Pan Masala; Seeks Public Comments

(Pan Masala Is Good Source of Revenue of Government, Which Benefits from The Tobacco in Consumer Products Like Cigarettes, Bidi and Pan Masala. The Move Will Result in Open Sale of Pan Masala Without Packing Leading To disease and Sichners)

1. Regulatory Authority:
Issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

2. Nature of Notification:
Draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.

3. Purpose:
Introduces new packaging standards for Pan Masala.

4. Public Consultation:

o Stakeholders can submit objections/suggestions within 30 days

o Inputs to be sent to FSSAI (email: regulation@fssai.gov.in)

5. Proposed Amendment Title:
Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026

6. Key Amendment Area:

o Changes proposed in Schedule IV (suggestive packaging materials)

o Addition of a new entry for Pan Masala (Sl. No. 11)

7. Permitted Packaging Materials:

o Paper, paperboard, cellulose, or other natural materials (strictly non-plastic)

o Tin or glass containers

8. Strict Prohibition:
Packaging must be free from:

o All forms of plastic (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, polyester)

o Synthetic polymers, laminates

o Aluminium foil or metallized layers

9. Alignment with Plastic Waste Rules:
Incorporates provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016:

o Ban on plastic sachets for gutkha, tobacco, and pan masala

o Complete prohibition on plastic packaging in any form

10. Regulatory Intent:

· Promote eco-friendly packaging

· Strengthen public health safeguards

· Ensure consistency with anti-tobacco packaging restrictions

11. Next Step:
Final regulations will be notified after considering stakeholder feedback.

[FSSAI Notification RCD-09002/1/2026-Regulatory dated 28.04.2026]

F. No. RCD-09002/1/2026-Regulatory-FSSAI.— The draft regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposes to make with previous approval of the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 92 read with section 23 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) is hereby published as required under sub-section (1) of section 92 of the said Act for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby, and notice is hereby given that the said draft regulations shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette in which this notification is published are made available to the public;

Objections or suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi- 110002 or may be sent by e-mail at regulation@fssai.gov.in;

Objections or suggestions which may be received with respect to the said draft regulations within the period specified above shall be considered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

Draft Regulations

1. These regulations may be called Food Safety and Standards (Packaging)Amendment Regulations, 2026

2. In the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, -,

(1) In schedule IV relating to the list of suggestive packaging materials, after the entries at Sl. No. 10, following shall be inserted namely;

11.	Pan Masala	(a) Paper, Paper Board, Cellulose or other naturally derived materials, such material shall be free from any plastic including but not limited to Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester, PVC, or any synthetic polymers, copolymers, or laminates and also free from Aluminium foil or metallized layers;
		(b) Tin or glass containers;
		(c) The clause (f) and (i) of sub-rule 1 of Rule 4 of Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as quoted below shall also apply:
		"4(1)(f) sachets using plastic material shall not be used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala;
		4(1)(i) plastic material, in any form including Vinyl Acetate - Maleic Acid - Vinyl Chloride Copolymer, shall not be used in any package for packaging gutkha, pan masala and tobacco in all forms"