Overview
- The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India finalised the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026 and notified the change in the Gazette, with the amendment taking effect on publication.
- The rule bars polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC, other synthetic polymers, laminates, aluminium foil and metallised layers for pan masala packaging and adds the product to Schedule 4 of the 2018 packaging regulations.
- Permitted formats are strictly plastic‑free paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials, or tin and glass containers, and packaging that only appears paper‑based but contains hidden plastic or foil is not allowed.
- FSSAI incorporated provisions of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 into the pan masala packaging regime, aligning food‑safety rules with environmental waste controls.
- Manufacturers, especially small firms using flexible sachets, now face urgent redesign, testing and supplier changes that could raise costs, shorten shelf‑life for some formats and disrupt informal retail distribution.