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Karnataka bans sale of gutkha, pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine for 1 year
Karnataka imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, transport, and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine.
Karnataka on Wednesday banned the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine across the state for a period of one year.
The notification, dated June 15, 2026, issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety, Karnataka State, said the ban has been imposed under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, read with Regulation 2.3.4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulation, 2011.
Order cites health concerns
The order was issued citing public health concerns, and it prohibits gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine across Karnataka with effect from the date of the notification.
Also read | FSSAI bans plastic, foil packaging for pan masala under new rules
It also covers other products marketed separately that contain tobacco or nicotine in the final product, regardless of their name, whether packaged or unpackaged and whether sold as one product or packaged separately in a manner that facilitates mixing by consumers.
“Gutkha /Pan masala which contains tobacco and nicotine…”
“Any other products marketed separately having tobacco or nicotine in the final product by whatever name called, whether packaged or un-packaged and/or sold as one product, or though packaged as separate products, sold or distributed in such a manner to easily facilitate mixing by the consumer. Gutkha /Pan masala which contains tobacco and nicotine as ingredients, which are packed in sachets/pouches/package/containers etc., or by whatever name it is called in the entire State of Karnataka for a period of one year with effect from the date of notification,” the notification read.
Earlier, India’s food safety regulator, FSSAI, had updated its packaging rules to ban plastic and foil packaging for pan masala. Under the new Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, manufacturers can no longer use plastic-based materials, plastic laminates, aluminum foil, or metallised layers to pack pan masala.
Moving forward, pan masala can only be sold in eco-friendly packaging or traditional rigid containers.
The new rules have been notified as the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, and will come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette, according to a press release.
Under the amended regulations, pan masala can be packed using paper, paper board, cellulose or other naturally derived materials.
