India's FSSAI bans plastic packaging for pan masala

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has amended packaging regulations to bar plastic, aluminium foil and metallised layers from pan masala packaging, permitting only paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials, or tin and glass containers. The amendment was notified on 7 August 2026, published in the Official Gazette on 10 August 2026 and took effect the same day.

Why this mattersA full plastic ban for a mass-market Indian product category creates fresh demand for paper, tin and glass packaging and signals wider regulatory pressure on flexible plastics in India.

• Amendment notified 7 August 2026 and published in the Official Gazette on 10 August 2026, effective the same day.
• Banned materials include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC and other synthetic polymers, copolymers and laminates.
• Permitted materials are paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials free of aluminium foil or metallised layers, plus tin or glass containers.
• Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016 clauses 4(1)(f) and (i) are extended to apply to pan masala packaging.
• Pan masala is added as a new entry under Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.
• The draft amendment was published for public consultation on 28 April 2026 with a 60-day comment period before finalisation.

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