The order has been issued by the state's Commissioner of Food Safety over public health concerns. The government of Karnataka has banned the manufacturing, storage, distribution, transportation, and sale of gutkha and pan masala containing tobacco or nicotine across the state for a time period of one year. Earlier, the national regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had banned plastic and aluminum foil packaging for pan masala products. Under the new Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Amendment Regulations, 2026, manufacturers can no longer use plastic-based material, plastic laminates, aluminum foil, or metallised layers to pack pan masala. As per the new rules, pan masala can be packed using paper, paper board, cellulos or other naturally-derived materials.