The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued notices to several alcoholic beverage manufacturers for alleged violations related to the unauthorised use of added flavours and misleading age-related claims on product labels.
According to the regulator, the notices were issued for non-compliance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018. The affected companies have been directed to ensure compliance and explain why action should not be initiated against them under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the applicable rules and regulations.
In a statement shared on social media, FSSAI said it had identified instances where manufacturers were using added flavours designed to mimic the natural taste and aroma of products such as rum, brandy, gin, malt and grain whisky, wine, and beer. The regulator noted that this practice contravenes the regulations, which require these beverages to possess only their genuine, natural characteristic flavour and aroma.
FSSAI also raised concerns over the use of unauthorised age-related claims on alcoholic beverage labels. The regulator observed that some manufacturers were using words, synonyms, or indirect expressions implying product age without complying with the requirements of Regulation 13.7 of the Alcoholic Beverages Regulations.
Additionally, the authority pointed out that products labelled as “aged” or carrying similar age claims must ensure that the declared age represents the youngest spirit used in the blend. Failure to disclose blend age in accordance with the regulations was identified as another area of non-compliance.
FSSAI has instructed the concerned manufacturers to immediately address these issues and submit their responses, warning that appropriate regulatory action may follow if the violations are not rectified.
