Date: 2026-04-28Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
The draft regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards Packaging Regulations, 2018, which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposes to make with previous approval of the Central Government
**Executive Summary**
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a notification on April 28, 2026, proposing the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026. These draft regulations specifically update the packaging requirements for Pan Masala to restrict the use of plastics and metallic layers. Stakeholders and the public are invited to submit objections or suggestions to the FSSAI within 30 days from the date the gazette copies are made available.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Permitted Packaging Materials for Pan Masala**
* Packaging must be made of paper, paper board, cellulose, or other naturally derived materials.
* Tin or glass containers are authorized for use.
* **Prohibited Materials and Substances**
* Naturally derived packaging materials must be entirely free from any plastic, including but not limited to Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester, and PVC.
* The use of synthetic polymers, copolymers, or laminates is prohibited.
* Packaging must not contain aluminum foil or metallized layers.
* **Alignment with Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016**
* In accordance with Rule 4 of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the use of plastic sachets for storing, packing, or selling gutkha, tobacco, and pan masala is prohibited.
* Plastic material in any form—specifically including Vinyl Acetate, Maleic Acid, and Vinyl Chloride Copolymer—must not be used in any package for gutkha, pan masala, or tobacco.
**Impact Analysis**
**Manufacturers of Pan Masala, Gutkha, and Tobacco**
**Impact**
These manufacturers are now restricted from using plastic-based sachets, laminates, and aluminum foils. They must transition to specific paper-based, tin, or glass packaging formats.
**Action Required**
They must ensure their packaging supply chains comply with the new material restrictions and eliminate all prohibited synthetic polymers and metallic layers.
**Packaging Material Suppliers**
**Impact**
Suppliers of plastic laminates and metallized foils for the tobacco and pan masala industry will face a reduction in demand. Conversely, there will be increased demand for high-quality paper-based and naturally derived materials.
**Action Required**
Suppliers must certify that their paper and cellulose products are free from plastic coatings, copolymers, and aluminum layers to meet the new standards.
**General Public and Affected Persons**
**Impact**
Individuals or entities affected by these changes have a defined window to influence the final regulation.
**Action Required**
Submit objections or suggestions to the Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, at FDA Bhawan, New Delhi, or via email at regulation@fssai.gov.in within 30 days of the gazette publication.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The primary regulatory body issuing the draft notification to amend food packaging standards.
Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018: The principal regulation being amended to introduce new packaging material restrictions for pan masala.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: The parent legislation providing the legal authority for FSSAI to create and modify food safety standards.
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: Environmental regulations cited to prohibit the use of specific plastic materials in the packaging of tobacco and pan masala.
Rajit Punhani: The Chief Executive Officer of FSSAI who authorized the publication of these draft amendment regulations.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-28042026-272132
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग III—खण् ड 4
PART III—Section 4
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 294] नई दिल्ली, मगं लिार, अप्रलै 28, 2026/ििै ाख 8, 1948
No. 294] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2026/VAISAKHA 8, 1948
भारतीय खाद्य सरु क्षा और मानक प्राजधकरण
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 28 अप्रलै , 2026
फा. स.ं आरसीडी-09002/1/2026-जनयामक-एफएसएसएआई.— खाद्य सरु क्षा और मानक (पैकेजिंग) जिजनयम,
2018 में और संिोधन करने हते ु प्रस्ट्ताजित प्रारूप जिजनयम, जिसे भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक प्राजधकरण केंद्र सरकार
की पूिव स्ट्िीकृजत से, खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक अजधजनयम, 2006 (2006 का संखयांक 34) की धारा 92 की उपधारा (2) के
साथ पठित धारा 23 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करत ेहुए बनाने का प्रस्ट्ताि करता ह,ै इससे प्रभाजित होन ेिाल ेसंभाजित
सभी व्यजियों को सूचना िेने के जलए उि अजधजनयम की धारा 92 की उपधारा (1) की अपेक्षा के अनुसार एतिद्वारा प्रकाजित
दकया िाता ह;ै और यह नोठिस दिया िाता ह ैदक उि प्रारूप जिजनयमों पर उस तारीख से तीस दिनों की अिजध समाप्त होन े
के बाि जिचार दकया िाएगा, जिस तारीख को इस अजधसूचना को प्रकाजित करने िाले रािपत्र की प्रजतयां िनता को उपलब्ध
कराई िाएँगी;
2994 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4]
आक्षेप अथिा सुझाि, यदि कोई हो, मुखय कायवकारी अजधकारी, भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक प्राजधकरण,
एफडीए भिन, कोिला रोड, नई दिल्ली-110002 को अथिा ईमेल द्वारा regulation@fssai.gov.in पर भेिा िा
सकता ह;ै
उपरोि जिजनर्िवष्ट अिजध के भीतर उि प्रारूप जिजनयमों के संबंध म ेंप्राप्त होने िाले आक्षेपों या सुझािों पर भारतीय
खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक प्राजधकरण द्वारा जिचार दकया िाएगा।
प्रारूप जिजनयम
1. इन जिजनयमों को खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक (पैकेजिंग) संिोधन जिजनयम, 2026 कहा िा सकता ह।ै
2. खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक (पैकेजिंग) जिजनयम, 2018 म,ें -
(1) अनुसूची IV, िो सुझािात्मक पैकेजिंग सामजियों की सूची से संबंजधत ह,ै म ेंक्रम संखया 10 के बाि जनम्नजलजखत
प्रजिजष्टयाँ अंतःस्ट्थाजपत की िाएंगी, अथातव ्:
11. पान मसाला (क) कागि, पेपर बोड,व सेललू ोज़ या अन्य प्राकृजतक स्रोतों स ेप्राप्त सामिी—ऐसी सामिी म ेंदकसी
भी प्रकार का प्लाजस्ट्िक िाजमल नहीं होना चाजहए, जिसमें पॉलीएजथलीन, पॉलीप्रोजपलीन,
पॉजलएस्ट्िर, पीिीसी या कोई भी जसंथेठिक पॉजलमर, को-पॉजलमर या लैजमनेि िाजमल ह।ैं साथ ही
इसमें एल्युजमजनयम फॉयल या धातुयुि (मेिलाइज्ड) परतें भी नहीं होनी चाजहए।
(ख) ठिन या कांच के कंिेनर।
(ग) प्लाजस्ट्िक अपजिष्ट प्रबंधन जनयम, 2016 के जनयम 4 के उप-जनयम (1) के खंड (f) और (i), िो
नीचे उद्धृत ह,ैं भी लागू होंगे:
“4(1)(f) प्लाजस्ट्िक सामिी से बने सैिे का उपयोग गुिखा, तबं ाकू और पान मसाला के भंडारण,
पैककंग या जबक्री के जलए नहीं दकया िाएगा;
4(1)(i) प्लाजस्ट्िक सामिी, दकसी भी रूप में, जिसमें जिनाइल एसीिेि - मैजलक एजसड - जिनाइल
क्लोराइड को-पॉजलमर भी िाजमल ह,ै का उपयोग गुिखा, पान मसाला और तंबाकू के दकसी भी
रूप की पैकेजिंग म ेंनहीं दकया िाएगा।”
राजित पुनहानी, मुखय कायवकारी अजधकारी
[जिज्ञापन-III/4/असा./63/2026-27]
नोि - खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक (पैकेजिंग) जिजनयम, 2018 भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग III, खंड 4 में अजधसूचना
संखया फाइल सं. 1-95/Stds/Packaging/SP(L&C/A)/FSSAI-2017, दिनांक 24 दिसंबर, 2018 के तहत
प्रकाजित दकए गए थे और तत्पश्चात जनम्नजलजखत अजधसूचना संखयाओं के तहत संिोजधत दकए गए:
1. फा. सं. Std/SP-08/A-1.2019/N-01, दिनांक 25 िनिरी, 2022;
2. फा. सं. Std/SP-20/T(Migration-N), दिनांक 30 अगस्ट्त, 2022; तथा
3. फा. सं. STD/SP-20/T(Recycledplastics-N), दिनांक 28 माच,व 2025।[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 28th April, 2026
F. No. RCD-09002/1/2026-Regulatory-FSSAI.— The draft regulations further to amend the Food Safety
and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposes to
make with previous approval of the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of
section 92 read with section 23 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) is hereby published as required
under sub-section (1) of section 92 of the said Act for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby, and
notice is hereby given that the said draft regulations shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of the period of
thirty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette in which this notification is published are made available to the
public;
Objections or suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards
Authority of India, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi- 110002 or may be sent by e-mail at regulation@fssai.gov.in;
Objections or suggestions which may be received with respect to the said draft regulations within the period
specified above shall be considered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
Draft Regulations
1. These regulations may be called Food Safety and Standards (Packaging)Amendment Regulations, 2026
2. In the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, -,
(1) In schedule IV relating to the list of suggestive packaging materials, after the entries at Sl. No. 10, following
shall be inserted namely;
(a) Paper, Paper Board, Cellulose or other naturally derived materials,
11. Pan Masala
such material shall be free from any plastic including but not limited
to Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester, PVC, or any synthetic
polymers, copolymers, or laminates and also free from Aluminium
foil or metallized layers;
(b) Tin or glass containers;
(c) The clause (f) and (i) of sub-rule 1 of Rule 4 of Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016, as quoted below shall also apply:
"4(1)(f) sachets using plastic material shall not be used for storing,
packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala;
4(1)(i) plastic material, in any form including Vinyl Acetate - Maleic Acid
- Vinyl Chloride Copolymer, shall not be used in any package for
packaging gutkha, pan masala and tobacco in all forms"
RAJIT PUNHANI, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./63/2026-27]
Note. - The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 were published in the Gazette of India,
Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 vide notification number File No. 1- 95/Stds/Packaging/SP(L&C/A)/FSSAI-
2017, dated the 24th December, 2018 and subsequently amended vide notification numbers:
1. F. No. Std/SP-08/A-1.2019/N-01, dated 25th January 2022;
2. F.No. Std/SP-20/T(Migration-N), dated 30th August 2022; and
3. F.No. STD/SP-20/T(Recycledplastics-N), dated 28th March 2025.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.