By Soniya:
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has proposed a complete ban on plastic packaging for pan masala, gutka, and similar products. The draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 aims to replace single-use plastic sachets with eco-friendly alternatives such as paper, paperboard, and other biodegradable materials.
Under the proposal, all forms of plastic packaging—including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC, and multilayer laminates—will be prohibited. The draft also restricts the use of aluminium foil and metallised layers commonly used in sachets, expanding the scope to both tobacco and non-tobacco variants of pan masala.
The move is significant as the chewing tobacco and pan masala industry relies heavily on non-recyclable plastic packaging, contributing to large-scale environmental pollution. By enforcing sustainable packaging, the regulation seeks to reduce plastic waste while strengthening public health safeguards.
Aligned with the Plastic Waste Management Rules 2016, the proposal also tightens oversight of products linked to health risks such as addiction and oral cancer. Once finalized, the amendment could bring major changes to packaging practices in the sector, supporting both environmental protection and consumer safety.
