New FSSAI guidelines ban plastic-based packaging for pan masala products
New Delhi, August 11
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's tightens Pan Masala packaging norms for Pan Masala under the latest amendment thr plastic-based or plastic-laminated packaging is not included among the permitted/specified packaging materials for Pan Masala
According to a press release, now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (k) of sub-section (2) of section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006), and with the previous approval of the Central Government, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018,
These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026. They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, the press release said.
The press release further noted that in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, in Schedule IV relating to the list of suggestive packaging materials, after entries at Serial Number 10, and entries relating thereto, following serial number and entries shall be inserted namely, for Pan Masala, permitted materials include, 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, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or any synthetic polymers, copolymers, or laminates and also free from Aluminium foil or metallised layers;
Tin or glass containers; and the provisions of clauses (f) and (i) of sub-rule 1 of rule 4 of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, made under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) shall also apply, the press release said.
— ANI
Reader Comments
A sensible move, but I wonder about the implementation. Small vendors and local manufacturers may not have the resources to shift to paper or glass packaging overnight. The government should provide some transition time and support to the small-scale industry.
Good initiative, but let's be honest—pan masala is a health hazard anyway. Banning plastic packaging is like putting a band-aid on a wound. Shouldn't we be focusing on stricter regulations on the product itself, which causes oral cancer in so many people? Just saying. 🤔
This is a practical step towards a cleaner India. I appreciate that they've included Paper, Glass, and Tin as alternatives. But the real question is, will the big brands like Pan Bahar and Rajnigandha adhere to this? They have huge lobbying power. Hope the enforcement is strict and not just on paper.
I'm all for reducing plastic, especially from products that are so widely consumed. 😊 However, this might increase the cost for consumers. If the packaging becomes more expensive, the prices will go up, and that could affect the common man who enjoys paan masala. Hopefully, it's a phased approach.
As someone whose father battle oral cancer due to pan masala, I feel this is a step in the right direction, but not enough. The true issue is the tobacco and other harmful chemicals inside. I hope FSSAI continues to tighten norms on the product composition as well. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.