Date: 2026-08-10Category: Extra OrdinaryState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Whereas, a draft of the Food Safety and Standards Packaging Amendment Regulations, 2026, was published, as required under sub section 1 of section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act,
**Executive Summary**
This notification issues the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, which amends the 2018 regulations to include specific packaging requirements for Pan Masala. The amendment mandates the use of plastic-free, naturally derived materials or metallic/glass containers, effective from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette on August 10, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Amendments to Schedule IV**
* The regulations insert a new entry (Serial Number 11) for "Pan Masala" into the list of suggestive packaging materials in the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018.
**Permitted Packaging Materials for Pan Masala**
* **Naturally Derived Materials:** Use of paper, paper board, cellulose, or other naturally derived materials is permitted.
* **Alternative Containers:** Tin or glass containers are approved for use.
**Material Restrictions and Prohibitions**
* **Plastic Ban:** Naturally derived packaging must be entirely free from any plastic, including but not limited to Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), synthetic polymers, copolymers, or laminates.
* **Metal Layer Restrictions:** Packaging must be free from aluminium foil or metallized layers.
**Environmental Compliance**
* Packaging must comply with the provisions of clauses (f) and (i) of sub-rule 1 of rule 4 of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, established under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
**Impact Analysis**
**Pan Masala Manufacturers and Food Business Operators**
**Impact**
Manufacturers are now prohibited from using plastic laminates, aluminium foils, or metallized layers for packaging Pan Masala. They must shift to compliant naturally derived materials, tin, or glass.
**Action Required**
Update packaging procurement and production lines to ensure all materials used for Pan Masala are plastic-free and meet the specific criteria defined in the 2026 amendment.
**Packaging Material Suppliers**
**Impact**
Suppliers providing packaging to the Pan Masala industry will face a shift in demand, moving away from plastic and metallized films toward high-grade paper, cellulose, and traditional tin/glass options.
**Action Required**
Ensure that materials supplied for Pan Masala packaging are certified plastic-free and do not contain prohibited synthetic polymers or metallic layers.
**Regulatory and Enforcement Authorities**
**Impact**
FSSAI and relevant state food safety authorities are responsible for enforcing these new packaging standards to ensure environmental and food safety compliance.
**Action Required**
Incorporate the new packaging specifications into market inspections and quality audits for Pan Masala products.
Key Entities Referenced
Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026: The specific regulation introduced to mandate plastic-free and foil-free packaging requirements for products like Pan Masala.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI): The primary regulatory body responsible for issuing and enforcing these food safety and packaging standards.
Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006: The parent legislation that provides the legal authority for the FSSAI to frame and amend food safety regulations.
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: Environmental regulations whose provisions are explicitly linked to the packaging standards defined in this notification.
Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018: The principal regulation being amended to include updated packaging material specifications.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-10082026-275349
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CG-DL-E-10082026-275349
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग III—खण् ड 4
PART III—Section 4
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 489] नई दिल्ली, सोमिार, अगस्ट्त 10, 2026/श्रािण 19, 1948
No. 489] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2026/SHRAVAN 19, 1948
भारतीय खाद्य सरु क्षा और मानक प्राजधकरण
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल्ली, 7 अगस्ट् त, 2026
फा. स.ं आरसीडी-09002/1/2026-जनयामक-एफएसएसएआई.—खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक (पैकेजिंग) संिोधन
जिजनयम, 2026 का प्रारूप, खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक अजधजनयम, 2006 (2006 का 34) की धारा 92 की उपधारा (1) के
अधीन यथापेजक्षत भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग 3, खंड 4 में भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक प्राजधकरण की
अजधसूचना संख्या फा. सं. आरसीडी-09002/1/2026-जनयामक-एफएसएसएआई , तारीख 28 अप्रलै , 2026 द्वारा प्रकाजित
दकया गया था, जिसम ें उन सभी व्यजियों स े जिनके उनस े प्रभाजित होने की संभािना ह,ै उस तारीख से, जिसको उि
अजधसूचना को अंतर्ििष्ट करने िाली रािपत्र की प्रजतया ं िनता को उपलब्ध करा िी गई थी, साठ दिन की अिजध के अिसान
स े पूिि के पहल े आक्षपे और सुझाि आमंजत्रत दकए गए थे;
और उि रािपत्र की प्रजतयााँ 28 अप्रलै , 2026 को िनता को उपलब्ध करा िी गई थी;
और उि प्रारूप जिजनयमों के सम्बन्ध में िनता से प्राप्त आक्षेपों और सुझािों पर भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक
प्राजधकरण द्वारा जिचार कर जलया गया ह;ै
6153 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART III—SEC.4]
अब, इसजलए, खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक अजधजनयम, 2006 (2006 का 34) की धारा 92 की उपधारा (2) के खडं
(ट) द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए और केंद्रीय सरकार के पूिि अनुमोिन स,े भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक
प्राजधकरण, एतद्द्वारा खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक (पैकेजिंग) जिजनयम, 2018 म ेंऔर संिोधन करन ेके जलए जनम्नजलजखत जिजनयम
बनाता ह,ै अथाित:् -
1. (1) इन जिजनयमों का संजक्षप्त नाम खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक (पैकेजिंग) संिोधन जिजनयम, 2026 ह।ै
(2) िह रािपत्र म ें उनके प्रकािन की तारीख को प्रिृत होंगे।
2. खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक (पैकेजिंग) जिजनयम, 2018 म:ें-पैकेजिंग के जलए सुझाई गई सामग्री की सूची स े संबंजधत
अनुसूची 4 म,ें क्रमसंख्या 10 पर िी गई प्रजिजष्टयो और उनसे संबंजधत प्रजिजष्टयो के पश्चात, जनम्नजलजखत क्रम संख्या और
प्रजिजष्टया अंत:स्ट्थाजपत की िाएगं ी, अथाति ्:-
11. पान (क) कागि, पपे र बोड,ि सले ूलोज़ या अन्य प्राकृजतक रूप से प्राप्त सामग्रीयां—ऐसी सामग्री दकसी भी
मसाला
प्रकार के प्लाजस्ट्टक स े मिु होगी, जिसमें पॉलीएजथलीन, पॉलीप्रोजपलीन, पॉजलएस्ट्टर, पॉलीजिनाइल
क्लोराइड (पीिीसी) या कोई भी जसंथेटटक पॉजलमर, को-पॉजलमर या लैजमनेट िाजमल ह ैंककंतु इन्ही तक
सीजमत नहीं ह ैतथा इसम ेंएल्यजु मजनयम फॉयल या धातुयुि (मेटलाइज्ड) परत ें भी नहीं होनी चाजहए।
(ख) टटन या कांच के कंटेनर।
(ग) पयाििरण संरक्षण अजधजनयम, 1986 (1986 का 29) के अधीन बनाए गए प्लाजस्ट्टक अपजिष्ट
प्रबंधन जनयम, 2016 के जनयम 4 के उपजनयम 1 के खंड (च) और (झ) के उपबंध भी लाग ूहोंगे।
राजित पुनहानी, मुख्य कायिकारी अजधकारी
[जिज्ञापन-III/4/असा./258/2026-27]
टटपण्ण - खाद्य सुरक्षा और मानक जिजनयम (पैकेजिगं ), 2018, भारत के रािपत्र, असाधारण, भाग 3, खंड 4 म ेंअजधसूचना
संख्या फाइल सं . 1-95/एसटीडीस/पैकेजिंग/एसपी(एल एंड सी/ए)/एफएसएसएआई-2017 , तारीख 24 दिसंबर,
2018 द्वारा प्रकाजित दकए गए थ े और अंजतम बार अजधसूचना संख्या फा.सं. एसटीडी/एसपी-20/टी/
(रीसाइकल्डप्लाजस्ट्टक्स-एन), तारीख 28 माच,ि 2025 द्वारा संिोजधत दकए गए थ।े[भाग III—खण् ड 4] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th August, 2026
F. No. RCD-09002/1/2026-Regulatory- FSSAI.—Whereas, a draft of the Food Safety and Standards
(Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, was published, as required under sub-section (1) of section 92 of the Food
Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) vide notification of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
number F.No. RCD-09002/1/2026-Regulatory- FSSAI, dated the 28th April, 2026, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary,
Part III, Section 4, inviting objections and suggestions from the persons likely to be affected thereby before the expiry
of the period of sixty days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette containing the said notifications
were made available to the public;
And, whereas, the copies of the said Gazette were made available to the public on the 28th, April 2026;
And, whereas, the objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft regulations
have been considered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (k) of sub-section (2) of section 92 of the Food
Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006), and with the previous approval of the Central Government, the Food
Safety and Standards Authority of India hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Food Safety and
Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, namely: -
1. (1) These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment
Regulations, 2026.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, - In schedule IV relating to the list of
suggestive packaging materials, after entries at Serial. Number. 10, and entries relating thereto, following serial
number and entries shall be inserted namely:-
(a) Paper, Paper Board, Cellulose or other naturally derived materials, such material shall be free
11. Pan
from any plastic including but not limited to Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester, polyvinyl
Masala
chloride (PVC), or any synthetic polymers, copolymers, or laminates and also free from
Aluminium foil or metallised layers;
(b) Tin or glass containers;
(c) The provisions of clauses (f) and (i) of sub-rule 1 of rule 4 of the Plastic Waste Management
Rules, 2016, made under the Environment Protection Act,1986 (29 of 1986) shall also apply.
RAJIT PUNHANI, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./258/2026-27]
Note: The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 were published in the Gazette of India,
Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4 vide notification number F. No. 1- 95/Stds/Packaging/SP(L&C/A)/FSSAI-
2017, dated the 24th December, 2018 and was last amended vide notification number 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.