Handling apparatus for a succession of packages of pasta, granular products and the like, for a packaging machine, comprising a bearing frame which supports at least a first chain meshed between a first drive crown and a first idle crown thus defining a first closed path which includes two straight portions and two curved portions, respectively opposite each other, the first drive crown being moved by a first brushless motor, a plurality of retaining elements removably fixed to the first chain, wherein each retaining element comprises a housing suitable for housing a single package, and a support element suitable for connecting the housing to the first chain hooked to the support element in a first seat of the support element, wherein the first chain is suitable for simultaneously moving the retaining elements along the closed path defined by the same first chain, wherein the housing has a substantially "C"-shaped section and is formed by a rear wall, a fixed side wall and a mobile side wall, the mobile side wall being suitable for moving towards the fixed side wall or away from the fixed side wall thus varying the distance between the side walls (12, 14) and consequently the width of the housing, wherein the mobile side wall is slidably fixed to the support element by means of a connection element, wherein the handling apparatus also includes at least a second chain meshed between a second drive crown and a second idle crown thus defining a second closed path substantially parallel to the first closed path and similarly comprising two straight portions and two curved portions, respectively opposite each other, characterized in that the second chain is suitable for simultaneously defining the width of the housings of all the retaining elements, wherein the second drive crown is moved by a second brushless motor independent with respect to the first brushless motor, wherein the support element includes a second seat in which the second chain is hooked, wherein the second chain is suitable for being hooked by means of a hooking element integral with the connection element and sliding in the second seat in the approach/removal direction of the mobile side wall with respect to the fixed side wall. a bearing frame which supports at least a first chain meshed between a first drive crown and a first idle crown thus defining a first closed path which includes two straight portions and two curved portions, respectively opposite each other, the first drive crown being moved by a first brushless motor, a plurality of retaining elements removably fixed to the first chain, wherein each retaining element comprises a housing suitable for housing a single package, and a support element suitable for connecting the housing to the first chain hooked to the support element in a first seat of the support element, wherein the first chain is suitable for simultaneously moving the retaining elements along the closed path defined by the same first chain, wherein the housing has a substantially "C"-shaped section and is formed by a rear wall, a fixed side wall and a mobile side wall, the mobile side wall being suitable for moving towards the fixed side wall or away from the fixed side wall thus varying the distance between the side walls (12, 14) and consequently the width of the housing, wherein the mobile side wall is slidably fixed to the support element by means of a connection element, wherein the handling apparatus also includes at least a second chain meshed between a second drive crown and a second idle crown thus defining a second closed path substantially parallel to the first closed path and similarly comprising two straight portions and two curved portions, respectively opposite each other, characterized in that the second chain is suitable for simultaneously defining the width of the housings of all the retaining elements, wherein the second drive crown is moved by a second brushless motor independent with respect to the first brushless motor, wherein the support element includes a second seat in which the second chain is hooked, wherein the second chain is suitable for being hooked by means of a hooking element integral with the connection element and sliding in the second seat in the approach/removal direction of the mobile side wall with respect to the fixed side wall.