The Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) has announced new labeling guidelines for alcoholic beverages, stating that labels should not contain nutritional information except for the energy content in kilocalories. This declaration of energy content will be voluntary for manufacturers, according to a notification issued by the FSSAI on August 21.
The regulations outlined in the notification will be implemented starting from March 1. The FSSAI has also provided definitions for certain types of whiskey in this amendment.
Single-malt whiskey has been described as a distillate obtained from a fermented mash that exclusively uses malted barley and does not incorporate any other grain. It must be distilled using a pot still only and produced within a single distillery. This definition seeks to establish a clear standard for what constitutes a single-malt whiskey.
Similarly, the FSSAI has defined single-grain whiskey as a distillate derived from a fermented mash that employs malted or unmalted grain. Like single-malt whiskey, it must also be produced in a single distillery. However, it is important to note that single-grain whiskey shall not encompass single malt whisky, blended malt whisky, or blended grain whisky.
The regulatory change aims to provide clarity and consistency in labeling practices for alcoholic beverages while addressing nutritional information. The FSSAI’s decision to make energy content declaration voluntary reflects an understanding of the unique characteristics of the alcoholic beverage industry.
The new guidelines come into play as of March 1, bringing a standardized approach to labeling and definitions within the realm of alcoholic beverages. This move by the FSSAI is aligned with its commitment to ensuring food safety and transparency in labeling practices across different categories of food and beverages.
