India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, proposing stricter packaging requirements for pan masala products.
The draft notification, published on April 28, 2026, proposes that pan masala packaging should use paper, paperboard, cellulose, or other naturally derived materials that are free from plastics, synthetic polymers, aluminium foil, and metallised layers. The proposal also permits the use of tin or glass containers.
According to the notification, the proposed amendment would insert a new entry under Schedule IV of the Packaging Regulations specifically covering packaging materials for pan masala products. The draft states that such materials “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.”
The proposal also reflects existing provisions under India’s Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, which restrict the use of plastic sachets and plastic materials for packaging gutkha, tobacco, and pan masala products.
FSSAI has invited stakeholder comments and objections within 30 days of the Gazette notification. The proposed move is expected to impact packaging suppliers, converters, and pan masala manufacturers using multilayer and metallised flexible packaging structures.
The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations were first introduced in 2018 and have since been amended several times, including provisions related to recycled plastics in 2025.