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 for packaging the product.
The changes were notified through the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, published in the Gazette of India on Monday, August 10. The amendment modifies the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 and adds pan masala as a new entry under Schedule 4, which contains a list of suggested packaging materials.
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Under the new rules, pan masala can be packaged using paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials. However, these materials must be completely free from plastic.
The notification specifically prohibits packaging materials containing polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), as well as other synthetic polymers, copolymers and laminates.
The restrictions also cover materials that may not appear to be plastic-based on the outside. Paper or other naturally derived packaging cannot contain aluminium foil or metallised layers. This means a paper-based package with an internal plastic or metallised layer will not meet the new requirements.
FSSAI has separately permitted the use of tin and glass containers for packaging pan masala. These have been included as approved packaging options under the newly added entry.
The amendment also states that certain provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, framed under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, will apply to pan masala packaging.
The new regulations have come into effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. The final notification follows a consultation process conducted by FSSAI before the regulations were formally approved.
FSSAI had initially released the draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, on April 28. The authority invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and other members of the public who could be affected by the proposed changes.
The draft regulations remained open for public feedback for 60 days. FSSAI said the objections and suggestions received during the consultation period were examined before the final amendment was notified.
The final regulations have been issued under the powers granted to FSSAI by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with the previous approval of the Central Government.
The authority’s latest move is specifically focused on the packaging of pan masala and should not be interpreted as a ban on the product itself.
Instead, the amendment establishes the types of materials manufacturers can use while packaging pan masala and prohibits several commonly used materials, particularly plastic-based and metallised components.
The changes could require manufacturers to review and potentially redesign their existing packaging to ensure compliance with the new specifications. Companies using plastic-based laminates, aluminium foil or metallised layers may need to shift towards approved alternatives such as plastic-free paper-based materials, tin or glass.
The notification therefore represents a regulatory change focused on packaging standards rather than the sale or manufacture of pan masala itself.
