Fssai: FSSAI proposes plastic-free packaging for pan masala, gutka | India News
New Delhi: In a significant move to target single-use plastics in tobacco-related products, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposed a complete shift to non-plastic packaging for pan masala, gutka and similar items.A draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 released on Tuesday stipulates that these products shall be packed only in paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials. The draft expressly prohibits the use of all plastics — including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC and multilayer laminates — as well as aluminum foil or metal layers.Officials said the proposed rules would apply across the board to both tobacco and non-tobacco pan masala and related products.The proposal goes further to ban the use of certain copolymers such as vinyl acetate-malic acid-vinyl chloride in any packaging for gutka, pan masala and tobacco.The changes have been introduced as an insert in Schedule IV of the Packaging Regulations, which lists approved materials for certain food categories. Pan masala has been added as a separate entry with strict ingredient restrictions.The draft also aligns with existing plastic waste management norms, which reinforce that plastic packaging cannot be used for storage, packing or sale of these products.The move comes in the backdrop of ongoing state-level restrictions on these products. As of 2026, several states – including Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat and Delhi – have banned the manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, many renewing these bans annually.FSSAI invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days of notification. The authority said that all feedback received during this period will be examined before finalizing the amendment.If notified, the move is expected to affect a large segment of the chewing tobacco and pan masala industry, which currently relies heavily on multilayer plastic sachets that are difficult to recycle and contribute significantly to litter.The proposal signals a tougher regulatory push on both the public health and environmental fronts, particularly targeting products that are widely consumed and generate high-volume plastic waste.
