FSSAI has banned plastic, aluminium foil and metallised layers in pan masala packaging under new rules notified on 10 August 2026. Here is what manufacturers can use instead and when the rules took effect
Pan masala makers face a packaging overhaul after the FSSAI banned plastic, aluminium foil and metallised layers, potentially forcing manufacturers to rethink widely used flexible and multi-layered packaging formats.
The revised rules were notified on Monday through the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, and came into effect from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
The amendment updates the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, by inserting pan masala into Schedule 4, which specifies permitted packaging materials for select food products.
Paper and natural materials allowed
Under the new framework, manufacturers may use paper, paperboard, cellulose and other naturally derived materials for packaging pan masala. However, the FSSAI said that such materials must be completely free of plastic content.
FSSAI said the packaging must not contain aluminium foil or any metallised layers.
The prohibition is comprehensive. Materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and other synthetic polymers, copolymers or laminates are explicitly disallowed.
In effect, the regulator has shut the door on multi-layered flexible packaging that relies on plastic or metallic barriers for moisture control, aroma retention and shelf-life extension — formats widely used in the segment.
Tin and glass permitted as alternatives
The FSSAI has also permitted the use of tin and glass containers for pan masala.
More from BusinessThis leaves manufacturers with a clearly defined set of compliant options: either fully plastic-free, naturally derived packaging materials, or rigid containers made of tin or glass.
The rules also address a common grey area in packaging design — paper-based wrappers that conceal plastic or metallic layers. Such composite structures will not be permitted if they contain any of the prohibited materials, regardless of their outer appearance.
For the industry, particularly smaller manufacturers reliant on flexible packaging formats, the shift will necessitate a reassessment of supply chains, material sourcing and packaging technology.
Plastic Waste Management Rules integrated into framework
The amendment also incorporates relevant provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, into the food packaging regime for pan masala.
These provisions reinforce existing restrictions on plastic sachets used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala. They also reiterate the prohibition on the use of plastic in any form for such products.
By embedding these rules within the FSSAI’s packaging regulations, the government has effectively aligned food safety norms with environmental compliance requirements.
Draft process began in April
The final notification follows a consultation process initiated in April this year.
On 28 April, the FSSAI released draft amendments proposing the inclusion of pan masala in Schedule 4 and outlining permissible packaging materials, including paper, paperboard, cellulose and other naturally derived substances, provided they were free of plastic, synthetic polymers and metallic layers. Tin and glass were also proposed as alternatives at the draft stage.
Stakeholders were invited to submit objections and suggestions. After reviewing the feedback, the regulator finalised and notified the amendments on 10 August.
The distinction between the draft and final notification is critical: while the April document set out the intent, the August notification makes the restrictions legally binding.
No ban on pan masala itself
It is important to underline that the amendment does not prohibit the manufacture or sale of pan masala.
The regulatory focus is confined strictly to packaging standards. Manufacturers may continue production and distribution, provided their packaging complies with the revised material specifications.
The move is part of a broader regulatory tightening around plastic-intensive packaging, particularly in categories linked to tobacco and related products.
The FSSAI has also been actively promoting alternatives to conventional plastic packaging. In July, it highlighted BIOPACKATHON 2026, an initiative in collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Standards, aimed at developing biodegradable packaging solutions for pan masala and gutkha sachets.
Industry now faces compliance challenge
For manufacturers, the immediate challenge lies in ensuring that packaging materials — particularly paper-based formats — are genuinely free of hidden plastic, aluminium foil or metallised layers.
Those opting for tin or glass containers will also need to ensure compliance with applicable food safety and handling standards.
The amendment, while regulatory in nature, signals a clear policy direction: a gradual but firm move away from plastic-dependent packaging in sensitive product categories.
For the industry, the message is unambiguous — adaptation is no longer optional, and compliance will require both technological and operational recalibration.
