FSSAI takes enforcement action against liquor manufacturers over flavour and labelling violations

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India initiates enforcement action against several liquor manufacturers on August 2, 2026, over flavour and labelling violations. The regulator prohibits the sale of specific variants of Old Monk, McDowell's, and Bagpiper, citing the illegal addition of external flavours to mimic natural spirits. FSSAI also flags misleading age claims on blended rums, emphasizing that such practices mislead consumers and violate national standards.

FSSAI enforcement against manufacturers

• ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued notices to six manufacturers in Maharashtra and conducted inspections at Mandexi Distilleries & Breweries in Goa.
• ▪On August 2, 2026, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India initiated enforcement action against several alcoholic beverage manufacturers over flavour, labelling, and age claim violations.
• ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India barred sales of specific variants of Old Monk, McDowell's No. 1, Bagpiper Deluxe, Old Cask Deluxe, Central Province, Antiquity Blue, and Royal Challenge.
• ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued prohibition of sale orders to Mohan Rocky Springwater's Khopoli unit, United Spirits, INBREW Beverages, and Associated Alcohols & Breweries.

External flavour additions

• ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India found manufacturers adding artificial or nature-identical flavours to mimic the natural taste of rum and whisky.
• ▪Some manufacturers produce beverages predominantly from neutral alcohol or extra neutral alcohol and introduce artificial flavouring substances to recreate standardized characteristics.
• ▪Laboratory testing of rum and whisky samples confirmed that the addition of artificial flavours masked the natural flavour, making the products substandard.

Misleading labelling practices

• ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India gave conditional revocation to two manufacturers to sell existing stocks after modifying front-of-pack labels.
• ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India stated that products with added external flavours must be labelled as "Rum-flavoured Spirit" or "Whisky-flavoured Spirit".

Blended spirit age claims

• ▪Under the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, the age claim of a blended spirit must be based on the youngest spirit in the blend.
• ▪The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare flagged a misleading "7 years old blended" claim on a rum variant that contained less than 5% matured spirit.

Regulatory compliance clarifications

• ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India stated there is no internationally recognized manufacturing practice of adding rum or whisky flavour to standardized beverages.
• ▪The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India clarified that regulations permit the use of natural and nature-identical flavouring substances when supported by legitimate technological justification.