FSSAI tightens pan masala packaging norms; bans plastic, foil and synthetic laminates | India News
NEW DELHI: India’s food safety regulator has barred the use of plastic and plastic-laminated packaging for pan masala, under an amendment aimed at tightening existing packaging norms, according to a press release.The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified that pan masala may now only be packaged in paper, paperboard, cellulose, or other naturally derived materials. Such materials must be entirely free of plastic, including polyethene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other synthetic polymers, copolymers or laminates, as well as aluminium foil or metallised layers, the release said. Tin and glass containers continue to be permitted, it added.The press release further stated that packaging will also need to conform to clauses (f) and (i) of sub-rule 1 of rule 4 of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, framed under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.The amendment has been incorporated as a new entry in Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which lists suggested packaging materials. It has been placed right after the existing entries at Serial Number 10, the release said.
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Notified as the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, the amendment will come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, according to the release.The regulations were issued by FSSAI in exercise of powers conferred under clause (k) of sub-section (2) of Section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and with prior approval of the Central Government, the release said.
