FSSAI Bans Sale of Select Old Monk, Antiquity Blue, Royal Challenge & Other Brands' Whisky, Rum Variants; Why?

India's apex food safety regulator FSSAI has initiated action against select whisky and rum variants manufactured by some of the country's leading liquor companies, citing alleged violations of prescribed production standards. The move follows laboratory examinations that reportedly detected artificial or nature-identical flavouring in products that, under established standards, are expected to develop their flavour naturally during the distillation and maturation process.

FSSAI Cracks Down on Antiquity Blue, Royal Challenge, Bagpiper Deluxe, Old Monk & Select Whisky, Rum Variants

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed that the identified products should not be sold, describing them as failing to meet the applicable quality standards. According to a Reuters report, the action involves specific variants manufactured at designated production facilities rather than an across-the-board restriction on the brands themselves.

Among the products covered by the regulatory order are Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky produced by United Spirits at its Madhya Pradesh manufacturing unit. United Spirits operates under Diageo India, one of the country's largest alcoholic beverage companies.

The order also includes Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum manufactured by Inbrew Beverages in Madhya Pradesh. In Maharashtra, three variants of the iconic Old Monk rum manufactured by Mohan Rocky Springwater have also been brought within the scope of the action, making some of India's most recognisable liquor labels part of the ongoing regulatory scrutiny.

Why FSSAI Bans Popular Whisky and Rum Variants

According to the regulator, products marketed as whisky or rum are expected to acquire their distinctive taste and aroma through recognised manufacturing practices such as fermentation, distillation, blending and ageing. The alleged use of externally added artificial or nature-identical flavouring, FSSAI argues, is inconsistent with those standards.

Explaining its position, the regulator stated that there is no internationally accepted manufacturing practice under which rum flavour is added to rum or whisky flavour is added to whisky. Instead, the character of these spirits is expected to evolve naturally during production.

While Indian regulations permit certain flavouring substances in specified circumstances, the regulator believes the products examined did not conform to the standards applicable to these categories of alcoholic beverages.

Is Every Bottle of Old Monk & Other Brands Affected?

At present, the regulatory action appears to be limited to specific product variants manufactured at identified production facilities.

There is no confirmation yet that the restriction extends to the same brands manufactured at other licensed plants across the country. That distinction is likely to be crucial because major liquor companies often produce identical brands from multiple facilities for different state markets.

Authorities are expected to provide further clarity on whether the restrictions are facility-specific, batch-specific or applicable more broadly.

Impact on Consumers and Retailers

Consumers are unlikely to see an immediate nationwide disappearance of these brands from retail shelves. However, distributors, wholesalers and liquor retailers may begin verifying stock originating from the affected manufacturing units while awaiting further instructions from regulators.

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