Now Reading: FSSAI bans plastic, aluminium foil in pan masala packaging
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FSSAI bans plastic, aluminium foil in pan masala packaging
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned plastic and aluminium foil in pan masala packaging with immediate effect. The new rules, published in the Gazette of India on…
The Story in Brief
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned plastic and aluminium foil in pan masala packaging with immediate effect. The new rules, published in the Gazette of India on 10 August as the Food Safety and Standards Packaging Amendment Regulations 2026, allow only paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials, free of any plastic content, along with tin and glass containers.
The ban covers all synthetic polymers including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and PVC, as well as laminates and metallised layers. The FSSAI had issued a draft of the changes on 28 April and invited public feedback for 60 days before finalising the rules. The notification does not ban pan masala itself, only its plastic-based packaging.
The Indian Opinion
The usual narrative around pan masala conflates packaging regulation with a product ban, but the FSSAI has done neither. It has simply said you cannot wrap gutka in plastic and pretend it is eco-friendly. The real test will be enforcement: how many of the big brands actually switch to paper or tin before the next compliance deadline, and how many find a loophole in 'naturally derived' laminates?
Source: bazaar.businesstoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
