FSSAI Tightens Pan Masala Packaging Rules, Bans Plastic and Plastic-Laminated Pouches
The new rules allow only paper, tin or glass packaging and take effect immediately after publication, the regulator said.
- On Friday, August 7, 2026, the FSSAI banned plastic-based and plastic-laminated packaging for pan masala. Producers must now use paper, tin, or glass containers, excluding all synthetic polymers and laminates.
- Chief Executive Officer Rajit Punhani signed the notification following a public consultation process. A draft was first published in the Gazette on April 28, 2026, inviting public feedback within 60 days.
- The amendment aligns with the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. These established environmental standards now apply to pan masala packaging to ensure broader safety compliance across India.
- Between May and July, the Mumbai FDA inspected over 3,100 food establishments, issuing hundreds of improvement notices and suspending 165 licences. This measure coincides with nationwide FSSAI enforcement efforts on food safety.
- Regulators issued notices to 14 D2C brands for alleged misleading claims, while authorities recently suspended a Malad West store licence in Mumbai on August 7 following inspectors' reports of unhygienic conditions.
22 Articles
22 Articles
No plastic or aluminium foil packaging for paan masala, says FSSAI
Hyderabad: The Central Food Safety and Standards Authority has made amendments to the packaging regulations by imposing a complete ban on the use of plastic, plastic lamination, and aluminium foil in paan masala packaging. Calling it “a crucial decision in the direction of public health and environmental protection,” Hyderabad Police Commissioner VS Sajjanar wrote on X on Wednesday, August 12, “This decision will reduce chemical reactions and th…
FSSAI tightens pan masala packaging norms, specifies plastic-free materials
New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has tightened packaging norms for pan masala by specifying materials that can be used for its packaging. Under the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, paper, paperboard, cellulose and other naturally derived materials can be used for pan masala packaging only if they are free from plastic. The notification specifically mentions polyethylene, polypr…
FSSAI issues new rules for pan masala packaging, bans plastic, aluminium foil packets
Under the amended regulations, permitted packaging materials include paper, paperboard, cellulose and other naturally derived materials, provided they are completely free from plastic, synthetic polymers, copolymers, laminates, aluminium foil and metallised layers.
Food Authority Bans Plastic Packaging For Pan Masala, Only Tin, Glass Allowed
According to the food safety authority, the pan masala packaging must not contain polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), synthetic polymers, copolymers or laminates.
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