FSSAI revokes liquor prohibition: Regulator withdraws 11-brand ban in Tamil Nadu
While FSSAI's U-turn raised eyebrows, officials said that the company had appealed against the prohibition order promising compliance, after which the prohibition was revoked and instead an improvement notice was issued.
In a surprising turn of events, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has rescinded its ban on 11 Indian-made foreign liquor brands, after they had initially prohibited the sale of these products. This reversal came just three days after FSSAI had imposed the prohibition, following an inspection of Enrica Enterprises Pvt Ltd in Chennai, a company that supplies these liquor varieties.
The ban was based on the company's use of nature-identical and artificial flavouring substances, which FSSAI deemed non-compliant with its regulations.
Upon receiving compliance assurances from the distiller, FSSAI revoked its earlier decision on Friday. The regulator issued an improvement notice, valid for 30 days, requiring the company to submit a compliance report. This notice mandates adherence to good manufacturing practices and good hygiene practices under Schedule 4 of FSSAI Regulations.
Officials from FSSAI clarified that the existing stock of the 11 liquor varieties can still be sold. The regulator is set to conduct further inspections at other liquor manufacturing units in the state in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the state prohibition and excise commissionerate has written to Tasmac to lift the ban on the 11 liquor varieties, but the corporation has yet to formally communicate this decision to district managers. Liquor shops remain closed on Saturdays due to the Independence Day holiday.
Tasmac officials have indicated that they will lift the ban on Sunday if they receive confirmation. They will then sell the liquor varieties at retail shops.
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