The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has escalated its enforcement against alcoholic beverage manufacturers, issuing fresh notices to leading players for violating flavour and labelling regulations under the FSS (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018. The move targets non-compliance in added flavours and unauthorised age claims, with implications for brands operating in high-margin segments like rum and whiskey.
FSSAI Cracks Down on Added Flavours and Age Claims
In a social media statement, FSSAI confirmed notices were sent to Food Business Operators (FBOs) licensed under the FSS Act, 2006, citing two primary violations. First, certain manufacturers are allegedly blending added flavours that mimic natural profiles in products such as rum, brandy, gin, whisky, wine, and beer—directly contravening rules mandating that these products retain their "true, natural characteristic taste and aroma."
Second, the regulator flagged "unauthorised age claims" where brands use terms like "aged" or indirect expressions denoting maturity without adhering to Regulation 1.3.7. This requires that any declared age strictly refer to the youngest spirit in the blend—a standard some products have failed to meet.
Compliance Deadline and Industry Impact
The affected companies, which include major alchobev players holding central licenses, have been directed to submit explanations for their alleged non-compliance. While FSSAI did not disclose specific names, sources indicate the notices target leading firms in the rum and whiskey segments.
This action follows a broader pattern of FSSAI enforcement, including recent notices over misleading claims and labelling violations, triggered by suo motu cognisance or consumer complaints. The crackdown underscores rising regulatory scrutiny in India’s alcoholic beverages market, where compliance gaps could lead to penalties or reputational damage for non-adherent brands.
