Proposed Ban on Plastic Packaging of Pan Masala and Gutkha by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)

¨   Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a complete ban on plastic packaging for pan masala, gutkha, and similar products.

¨     The aim is to reduce plastic waste and strengthen public health regulations.

¨     Packaging of these products will be allowed only in non-plastic materials.

¨  All types of plastic materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC, and multilayer laminates are proposed to be banned.

¨     Aluminium foil and metallized layers used in pouch packaging are also prohibited.

¨     The rule will apply to both tobacco and non-tobacco variants of pan masala.

¨     Specific copolymers like vinyl acetate, maleic acid, and vinyl chloride are also banned.

¨     These changes are included in Schedule IV of the packaging regulations.

¨     Pan masala has been categorized separately with stricter packaging norms.

¨     The proposal aligns with existing plastic waste management rules.