To curb single-use plastic usage, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed banning plastic packaging for pan masala, gutka, and similar products. The draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, calls for a complete transition to eco-friendly, non-plastic materials.
According to the proposal dated 28 April 2026, seen by Packaging South Asia, only materials such as paper, paperboard, cellulose, and other naturally sourced options will be allowed for packaging. Polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and PVC, along with aluminum foil and metalized layers, will be strictly banned. These rules will apply to both tobacco and non-tobacco versions of these products.
The amendment strengthens the existing Plastic Waste Management Rules by prohibiting plastic use in the storage, packaging, and sale of these items. It bans materials such as laminated boards with plastic films and certain synthetic copolymers. However, alternatives such as cellulose films and bio-based materials like starch-based coatings, PLA, and chitosan will be permitted.
FSSAI has listed pan masala as a separate category under Schedule IV, outlining stricter packaging norms. The draft is currently open for public feedback and will be reviewed before final approval.
This move is likely to affect the industry, which depends heavily on multilayer sachets that are hard to recycle and contribute to littering and pollution. The move also complements existing state-level bans on gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine.
The proposal aligns with plastic waste management rules, which disallow plastic packaging for storing, packing, or selling these products.
Experts believe the step will encourage sustainable packaging and drive innovation, though concerns around cost and material performance, such as barrier properties, remain.
