The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned the use of plastic, aluminium foil and metallised layers in pan masala packaging under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, notified on 10 August 2026 and effective from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The amendment inserts pan masala into Schedule 4 of the Packaging Regulations, 2018, and limits permissible materials to fully plastic‑free, naturally derived options or rigid metal and glass containers.
Under the new rules, manufacturers may package pan masala in paper, paperboard, cellulose and other naturally derived materials only if those materials contain no plastic. The FSSAI explicitly prohibits aluminium foil, metallised layers and synthetic polymers — including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC, copolymers and laminates — effectively ruling out common multi‑layer flexible films used for moisture control, aroma retention and shelf‑life extension.
The amendment also allows tin and glass containers as compliant alternatives, providing a clear, limited set of choices: genuinely plastic‑free paper‑based materials or rigid tin or glass packaging. The regulator clarified that paper wrappers or composite structures that conceal plastic or metallic layers will not be permitted, regardless of their outer appearance.
To align environmental and food safety rules, the notification integrates relevant provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 (under the Environment Protection Act, 1986) into the pan masala packaging regime. These provisions reinforce existing restrictions on plastic sachets used for gutkha, tobacco and pan masala and reiterate the prohibition on using plastic in any form for these products.
The final notification follows a consultation begun in April 2026. On 28 April, FSSAI published draft amendments proposing inclusion of pan masala in Schedule 4 and invited stakeholder feedback; after reviewing responses, the regulator finalised the rules and issued the 10 August notification that now has legal force.
The change does not ban pan masala itself: manufacturing and sale may continue so long as packaging meets the revised material specifications. For manufacturers — especially small firms dependent on flexible, multi‑layer formats — the immediate task is to verify that paper‑based options are free of hidden plastic or metallic layers, or to shift to tin or glass while meeting food‑handling standards. The amendment signals a firm policy move away from plastic‑dependent packaging in sensitive product categories, making compliance and operational adaptation essential.
FSSAI has also promoted alternatives to conventional plastic packaging, citing initiatives such as BIOPACKATHON 2026 (in collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Standards) aimed at developing biodegradable solutions for pan masala and gutkha sachets.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/business/fssai-pan-masala-packaging-rules-plastic-aluminium-foil-ban-14037581.html
Category: India
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Publish Date: 2026-08-12 09:34:00
