The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), through notification dated 7 August 2026, issued the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, further amending the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018. The amendment follows consideration of objections and suggestions received on the draft regulations published on 28 April 2026 under Section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The amendment inserts a new entry for Pan Masala in Schedule IV concerning suggestive packaging materials. The specified packaging materials include paper, paper board, cellulose or other naturally derived materials, provided they are free from plastic, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC and synthetic polymers, copolymers or laminates, and are also free from aluminium foil or metallised layers. Tin or glass containers are also specified. Further, clauses (f) and (i) of sub-rule 1 of the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, made under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, shall also apply. The regulations come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 7th August, 2026
F. No. RCD-09002/1/2026-Regulatory- FSSAL—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:-
| 11. | Pan Masala | (a) Paper, Paper Board, Cellulose or other naturally derived materials, such material shall be free from any plastic including but not limited to Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyester, polyvinyl 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 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.
