The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has tightened packaging norms for pan masala, barring the use of plastic and plastic-based materials and requiring manufacturers to shift to alternatives such as paper, cellulose, tin and glass.
The changes have been introduced through an amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. The amendment was notified on August 7 and will take effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Under the revised regulations, pan masala can be packed in paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials, provided the packaging is completely free of plastic.
Manufacturers can also use tin or glass containers for their products. The new requirements rule out polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride and other synthetic polymers and copolymers.
Plastic-laminated packaging will also not be permitted. Aluminium foil and metallised layers, which are frequently used as part of multilayer packaging to provide protection against moisture and air, have also been excluded under the revised norms.
The changes are aimed at moving the pan masala industry away from conventional plastic-based sachets and towards packaging materials that are more sustainable and easier to recycle or dispose of.
Pan masala is commonly sold in small flexible pouches, making the sector a significant user of multilayer packaging materials. Such packaging can be difficult to recycle because it combines different materials in a single structure.
The latest rules are therefore expected to require manufacturers to reassess packaging designs and supply chains and move towards alternatives that comply with the revised standards.
The permitted options include paper and paperboard-based solutions, naturally derived cellulose materials and reusable or recyclable containers made of tin and glass.
The final regulations follow draft amendments issued by FSSAI in April this year. The food safety regulator had proposed moving pan masala away from plastic packaging and invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders before finalising the changes.
The draft had proposed amending Schedule IV of the Packaging Regulations to prescribe specific materials that could be used for pan masala packaging.
The proposal was also intended to bring FSSAI's packaging requirements into closer alignment with India's broader plastic waste management framework, which contains restrictions on the use of plastic sachets for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala.
The new norms could have significant implications for pan masala manufacturers that rely on flexible multilayer packaging to preserve freshness, aroma and shelf life.
Companies will now have to ensure that their packaging materials meet the revised requirements while continuing to provide adequate protection to the product during transportation and storage.
The move is part of a wider push towards reducing dependence on plastic packaging and encouraging environmentally sustainable alternatives in consumer products.
With the amendment coming into force upon publication in the Official Gazette, pan masala manufacturers will be required to bring their packaging practices in line with the revised FSSAI standards.