Liquor Bottles to carry Statutory Warning as per FSSAI regulation
The apex food safety watchdog FSSAI has initiated various strict measures for the proper implementation of the food safety regulation and in the food industry. So far, it has left no stone unturned in regulating the food business to take care of public health and food safety. It regularly conducts inspections of food businesses for checking FSSAI registration and license.
Very recently, FSSAI had banned the usage of plastic & newspaper in the packaging of the food items.
On the lines of tobacco industry regulations, the FSSAI authority has now directed the liquor manufacturers to mention the following statutory warning on the labels of all Alcoholic Beverages-
"Consumption of alcohol is injurious to health. Be safe… Don’t drink & drive".
Just like the tobacco & cigarette packets, all the liquor bottles must carry this statutory warning so that the people do not drive after drinking, besides cutting down alcohol consumption.
#1. Why has FSSAI imposed statutory warning for Alcoholic Beverages?
In order to improve public health and urging people to cut down on alcohol consumption, and to avoid drinking & driving, FSSAI had recently introduced the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018.
- According to this notification, FSSAI had mandated the liquor manufacturers to put the statutory warning in a square box on the labels of the liquor bottles.
- This warning, which states that alcohol consumption is injurious to health, and to avoid driving after drinking, has now come into effect.
#2. How should the statutory warning be printed on the liquor bottles?
FSSAI has clearly specified the format of statutory warning on the liquor bottles, in its notification regarding Alcoholic Beverages published last year. As per the notification-
- The font size of the statutory warning must not be less than 3 mm.
- The statutory warning must be in the English language.
- However, if any state wishes that the statutory warning shall be printed there their local or regional language, it shall be done as such. In that case, there shall be no need to repeat the warning in English.
The correct format of the statutory warning on the liquor bottles can be seen in the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018.
#3. How shall the existing Liquor labels be treated?
Though FSSAI has now enforced the regulation regarding statutory warning on the liquor bottles, it also has given 6 months’ time to all the liquor manufacturers for using the existing labels & printed cans of alcoholic beverages.
It has stated that the alcoholic beverages manufactured before 1st April 2019 without statutory warning can be sold in the market, but only till 31st March 2020.
This decision has been taken in the interest of public health & safety.
No doubt, all the liquor manufacturers and dealers must possess an FSSAI registration or license, according to their scale of operation.
We can assist in obtaining the FSSAI registration or FSSAI license.
If you need any assistance regarding the FSSAI registration procedure, feel free to contact our business advisor at 8881-069-069.
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