Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: In a significant move targeting single-use plastic in tobacco-related products, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has 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, mandates that these products be packed only in paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials. The draft explicitly bars the use of all plastics — including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC and multilayer laminates — as well as aluminium foil or metallised layers.Officials said the proposed norms will apply across the board to both tobacco and non-tobacco variants of pan masala and related products.The proposal goes further to prohibit the use of specific copolymers such as vinyl acetate–maleic acid–vinyl chloride in any packaging for gutka, pan masala and tobacco in all forms.The changes have been introduced as an insertion in Schedule IV of the packaging regulations, which lists permissible materials for specific food categories. Pan masala has been added as a separate entry with strict material restrictions.The draft also aligns with existing plastic waste management rules, reinforcing that plastic packaging cannot be used for storage, packing or sale of these products.The move comes against 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, with many renewing these prohibitions annually.FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days of the notification. The authority said all feedback received within this period will be examined before finalising the amendment.If notified, the move is expected to impact 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 tighter regulatory push on both public health and environmental fronts, especially targeting products that are widely consumed and generate high-volume plastic waste.
