FSSAI turnover in Alcoholic products – Regulation 2018 of FSSAI recognized alcoholic beverages as one of additional food item to be regulated through new guidelines giving pave for Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 specifying the standards for Alcoholic beverages namely Distilled Alcoholic Beverage (Brandy, Country Liquor, Gin, Rum, Vodka and Whisky, Liquor or Alcoholic cordial), Wines and, Beer. It also specifies the specific requirement for labelling of Alcoholic

Earlier under Part 5 of these parent regulations, full disclosure of content of beverages starting from Geographical indicators or name, residues of preservatives or additives present, date, month and year of expiry on the label, Allergen warning, statutory warning, etc while stating of no requirement for mention of nutritional information on label.

New era of changes required –

FSSAI with view for better knowledge to consumers of food (alcoholic beverages) has now, vide its notification F. No. STD/SP-21/T(Alcohol-4) made the following regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, namely called the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) First Amendment Regulations, 2023.

Key points –

1. The following regulations has now redefined single malt whiskey and single grain whiskey differently. Earlier such both were defined as distillate obtained from use of single malted grain or barley in single pot. After the amendment: –

• Single malt whisky is a distillate obtained from fermented mash that uses malted barley without adding any other grain, which is distilled in pot still only and produced in a single distillery.
• Single grain whisky is a distillate obtained from a fermented mash that uses malted or unmalted grain, and produced in a single distillery. Single grain whisky shall not include single malt whisky and blended malt whisky or blended grain whisky”

2. Now a new choice has been given to manufactures to voluntary decide whether to put on energy information in kcal on label, except such, other nutritional information is mandatory not to be included which has reduced the legal obligation of manufacturers at same time making it difficult for consumers to trust the content of beverages.

Challenges of amendment: –

Such new amendment has posed a challenge for consumers to trust the content with lack of information related to its nutritional information whereby it also has created a differential practice regime in labelling by giving a voluntary option for posting of energy content, creating need for discussion to standardize labelling practices.

Prospective Benefits;

1. Labelling by voluntary practice has given a competitive edge to manufacturers who accept the same scheme.
2. The redefined classification of whisky will help both consumers and manufacturer to sort their preference and produce categorizing respectively.

Effective date: – As per notification issued, the said amendment will be effective from 1^st March,2024.