New Delhi: In a significant move targeting single-use plastics in tobacco-related products, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has proposed a complete shift to non-plastic packaging for pan masala, gutka and similar items.A draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 released on Tuesday states that these products should be packed only in paper, paperboard, cellulose or other naturally derived materials. The draft clearly bans the use of all plastics – including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, PVC and multilayer laminates – as well as aluminum foil or metallized layers.Officials said the proposed norms would be applicable to both tobacco and non-tobacco variants of pan masala and related products.The proposal goes on to ban the use of specific copolymers such as vinyl acetate-malic acid-vinyl chloride in any packaging for all types of gutka, pan masala and tobacco.The changes have been introduced as an insertion into Schedule IV of the packaging rules, which lists permissible ingredients for specific food categories. Pan masala has been added as a separate entry with strict ingredient restrictions.The draft is also in line with existing plastic waste management regulations, ensuring that plastic packaging cannot be used for storing, packing or selling these products.The move has been taken in the backdrop of ongoing state-level restrictions on these products. By 2026, several states, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat and Delhi, have banned the manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine, with many states renewing these bans annually.FSSAI has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders within 30 days of the notification. The authority said all feedback received within this period will be examined before finalizing the amendments.If notified, the move is expected to impact a large segment of the chewing tobacco and pan masala industry, which currently relies heavily on multilayer plastic pouches, which are difficult to recycle and contribute significantly to litter.The proposal signals tougher regulatory pressure on both the public health and environmental fronts, particularly targeting products that are widely consumed and generate high amounts of plastic waste.