A draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, released on Tuesday, mandates that these products be packaged exclusively in paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials. The proposal explicitly prohibits the use of all forms of plastic, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride and multilayer laminates, as well as aluminium foil or metallised layers.
Officials confirmed that the proposed norms will apply uniformly to both tobacco and non-tobacco variants of pan masala and related products. The draft goes further by banning the use of specific copolymers such as vinyl acetate-maleic acid-vinyl chloride in any form of packaging for gutka, pan masala and all tobacco products.
The amendment has been introduced as an insertion in Schedule IV of the packaging regulations, which specifies permissible materials for distinct food categories. Pan masala has now been listed as a separate entry with stringent material restrictions. The draft also aligns with existing plastic waste management rules, reinforcing that plastic packaging cannot be used for the storage, packing or sale of these products.
The move comes amid ongoing restrictions imposed by multiple states. As of 2026, states including Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat and Delhi have enforced bans on the manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of gutka and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, with several states renewing these prohibitions annually.
The authority has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days of the notification, stating that all feedback received during this period will be reviewed before finalising the amendment.
If implemented, the proposal is expected to significantly impact a large segment of the chewing tobacco and pan masala industry, which currently depends heavily on multilayer plastic sachets that are difficult to recycle and contribute substantially to environmental litter.
The proposed regulation marks a decisive escalation in efforts to address both public health concerns and environmental damage, targeting products that are widely consumed and are a major source of high-volume plastic waste.
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