Pan Masala Packaging Gets Stricter: FSSAI Bans Plastic, Aluminium Foil Permits Paper, Tin Or Glass

(MENAFN- Live Mint) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has released a set of new guidelines for the packaging of pan masala by proposing amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.

The changes, which were notified on Monday, August 10, through the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India, restrict manufacturers from using plastic, aluminium foil and metallised layers to package the product.

The amendment brings pan masala under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. The schedule contains a list of packaging materials that can be used for food products.

Under the revised rules, pan masala may be packed using paper, paperboard, cellulose and other naturally derived materials, provided they are entirely free of plastic.

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The permitted materials cannot contain polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or any other synthetic polymers, copolymers or laminates.

Paper packaging cannot contain foil or hidden plastic layers

The restrictions also cover packaging that may appear to be paper-based but contains other materials within its layers.

FSSAI has specified that paper and naturally derived packaging materials must not contain aluminium foil or metallised layers. Therefore, packaging made from paper but containing plastic or metallised layers would not comply with the new requirements.

Tin and glass containers allowed

Manufacturers have also been given the option of using tin or glass containers for pan masala. These have been separately listed as permitted packaging materials under the new entry.

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The amendment also brings certain provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, within its scope for pan masala packaging.

Rules take effect immediately

The new regulations came into effect on the date they were published in the Official Gazette.

The final amendment followed a public consultation process initiated earlier this year. FSSAI had issued the draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, on April 28 and invited objections and suggestions from those likely to be affected by the proposed changes.

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The draft was open for public feedback for 60 days. FSSAI said the representations received during the consultation were considered before the final regulations were notified.

No ban on pan masala

The amendment does not prohibit the sale or manufacture of pan masala. Instead, it regulates the materials that can be used to package the product by formally adding it to the packaging schedule.

The new provisions require manufacturers opting for paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials to ensure that they contain no plastic, synthetic polymers, copolymers or laminates and are free from aluminium foil and metallised layers.

Tin and glass containers remain the other packaging options specifically permitted under the amended regulations.

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