India alcohol limits drafted

By Ankush Chibber , 28-May-2012

India’s top food regulator has drafted regulations for alcohol content in beer, wine and spirits sold in the country, a move that has ruffled feathers in the local liquor manufacturing industry.

New alcohol standards will create ripples through the liquor industry, say manufacturersThe Food Standards and Safety Authority of India (FSSAI) has finalised its draft standards for all categories of alcoholic beverages including wine, beer, whisky, rum, gin and vodka.  The standards will set the maximum permissible limits of alcohol in these drinks and thus, command safety standards, the body said.The regulations are set to be implemented in July, following a final meeting at the end of the month.“These standards have already been approved by the FSSAI scientific committee and after final approvals, these will be put in the public domain and objections will be invited,” an FSSAI official said, without revealing the new limits.

The FSSAI had established an expert group in February this year to draw up benchmarks for alcoholic beverages.

Current licence standards in India allow 45.5% maximum content in distilled spirits such as whisky, rum, and gin, 12% for wine, and 8% for beer products while there are no limits for locally made beverages.

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