CHENNAI:The central food safety watchdog is preparing a draft notification on the standards for alcoholic drinks in the country, said officials in Delhi.
“The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will come up with a draft notification on the standards of alcoholic beverages in next 45 days,” an agency report said, quoting an unnamed source.
This comes close on the heels of petitions at Madras High Court recently and at a magistrate court on Monday, raising allegations about the quality of alcohol products sold at State-owned Tasmac outlets.
Once standards for alcohol and alcoholic beverages are finalised, all States and Union Territories will be intimated so that they suitably advise the respective excise departments, the agency report added.
“Work is going on to prepare standards for alcohol and alcoholic beverages, broadly under two different heads, one for drinks with less alcohol like beer and another for drinks having high alcohol content like whisky,” it said. Among other drinks, vodka, brandy and gin will also come under the proposed standards.
The Central Advisory Committee had discussed fixing standards for alcohol and alcoholic beverages earlier this year.