The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the deadline for the implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Alcoholic Beverages Regulations, 2018 to March 31, 2020.
The country’s apex food regulator, in this regard, has issued a notification, stating that after considering the representations it received asking for extension, the decision to extend the implementation was taken vis-a-vis Indian brandy, made from molasses, and the use of unused old labels and printed cans.
The notice stated, “After due consideration, it has been decided that the date of implementation of labelling of Indian brandy as Indian brandy (made from molasses sprit), as mentioned in Para 3 Annexure 1 of the Alcoholic Beverages Regulations, and the time period for the use of unused old label and printed cans in Para iv of the said direction is further extended up to March 31, 2020.”
Shobhit Jain, executive director, compliance strategy/training, FSSAI, said, “Representations were received from various stakeholders in respect of difficulties being faced with respect to labelling of Indian brandy as Indian brandy (made from molasses spirit), because brandy is widely made from sources other than molasses.”
“Further, representations were also received from various stakeholders, stating that they have registered the brand with excise department for a period of twelve months till March 31, 2020, paying a huge amount as registration fee. And modifying the labels as per the requirement of the statutes will be a heavy financial burden on them and has requested to provide extra time,” he added.
Earlier this year, FSSAI issued a direction for implementation of the said regulations and a time period of six months was given for the implementation of the regulations for Indian brandy and unused labels.
