Hyderabad: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India amended packaging rules to ban plastic and aluminium foil in pan masala packs. Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said the decision would support public health and environmental protection.
Under the revised FSSAI pan masala packaging rules, manufacturers could no longer use plastic, plastic lamination or aluminium foil. Instead, pan masala had to be sold only in permitted plastic-free packaging materials.
These included plastic-free paper, paperboard and cellulose. Tin containers and glass bottles were also allowed under the revised requirements.
Sajjanar, an IPS officer, highlighted the decision in a social media post. He said the new rules addressed concerns linked to both packaging-related health risks and plastic waste.
FSSAI pan masala packaging rules addressed health risks
According to Sajjanar, storing pan masala in plastic pouches could result in chemical reactions. He also pointed to the risk posed by microplastics.
The FSSAI pan masala packaging changes were therefore expected to reduce such risks. Consequently, the revised packaging requirements would provide greater protection to public health, he said.
The measure also addressed the large volume of non-recyclable plastic sachets discarded after use. Sajjanar said crores of such plastic sachets had contributed to waste on roads and in drains.
Therefore, eliminating these packaging materials would help prevent plastic waste from accumulating in public spaces. The change would also benefit environmental protection efforts, according to his post.
Manufacturers and traders had to comply strictly with the new guidelines. Sajjanar also called for public participation in efforts to build a cleaner and healthier society.
The FSSAI pan masala packaging decision marked a move away from plastic pouches and laminated packs. It required the industry to shift to paper-based, cellulose, tin or glass packaging.