Draft amendment mandates shift to paper and natural materials, bars multilayer plastics and aluminium; stakeholders invited to comment within 30 days
In a move aimed at curbing the use of single-use plastics in tobacco-linked products, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed transitioning entirely to non-plastic packaging for pan masala, gutka and similar items.
A draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, issued on Tuesday, stipulates that such products must be packaged only in materials like paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally sourced alternatives. It clearly prohibits the use of plastics, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC and multilayer laminates, along with aluminium foil and metallised coatings.
According to officials, the proposed rules would apply uniformly to both tobacco and non-tobacco variants of pan masala and related products.
The draft also bars the use of certain copolymers, including vinyl acetate–maleic acid–vinyl chloride, in packaging for gutka, pan masala and all forms of tobacco.
These revisions have been introduced through an addition to Schedule IV of the packaging regulations, which specifies approved materials for different food categories. Pan masala has now been listed as a distinct category with stringent material limitations.
The proposal further reinforces existing plastic waste management rules by reiterating that plastic packaging cannot be used for storing, packing or selling these products.
The move comes amid ongoing state-level curbs. As of 2026, multiple states, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat and Delhi, have imposed bans on the manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, with several of these restrictions renewed annually.
FSSAI has sought objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days of the notification, adding that all responses received during this period will be reviewed before finalising the amendment.
If implemented, the proposal is likely to affect a substantial portion of the chewing tobacco and pan masala sector, which currently depends heavily on multilayer plastic sachets that are difficult to recycle and contribute significantly to environmental waste.
The draft signals a sharper regulatory focus on both public health and environmental concerns, particularly targeting widely consumed products that generate large volumes of plastic waste.
