Page 63 - Plastics News September 2026
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IN THE NEWS
FSSAI Tightens Pan Masala Packaging Norms
he Food Safety and Standards Authority shift away from plastic-based materials could
of India (FSSAI) has tightened packaging require manufacturers to review their existing
Trequirements for pan masala, ruling out packaging systems, materials and supply chains.
the use of plastic-based packaging materials for
the product. FSSAI’s move is also expected to encourage the
industry to explore alternative packaging solu-
The move is aimed at reducing plastic waste and tions that meet food-safety standards while
promoting safer and more environmentally re- reducing environmental impact. Manufacturers
sponsible packaging practices in the food sec- will need to ensure that any replace-
ment material is suitable for direct or
indirect contact with food and com-
plies with applicable regulatory re-
quirements.
The tighter packaging norms form
part of FSSAI’s broader efforts to
strengthen food safety and pack-
aging standards across the country.
The regulator has increasingly fo-
cused on ensuring that food-contact
materials meet prescribed safety re-
quirements.
For pan masala producers, the latest
decision could bring additional com-
pliance requirements, while also ac-
tor. Pan masala manufacturers will now have to celerating innovation in sustainable packaging.
ensure that packaging complies with the revised
requirements prescribed by the food safety reg- The revised approach places greater responsi-
ulator. bility on manufacturers to align packaging prac-
tices with India’s growing focus on food safety
The decision is significant for the pan masala in- and environmental sustainability.
dustry, which relies heavily on small-format and
multilayer packaging for retail distribution. The
September 2026 PLASTICS NEWS 67
