Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has formally announced significant amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018. The new rules, titled the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) First Amendment Regulations, 2025, are slated to take effect on January 1, 2026. This notification, dated June 20, 2025, follows a period of public consultation and consideration of objections and suggestions received since the draft regulations were published in May 2023.
The amendments introduce updated definitions, classifications, and specific requirements for various alcoholic beverages, reflecting evolving market trends and product diversity within the Indian alcoholic beverage sector. This regulatory update aims to provide clearer guidelines for manufacturers and ensure product safety and quality standards across the industry.
Key Regulatory Adjustments Detailed
1. Redefining Ready-to-Drink Beverages: A notable change is the insertion of a new definition for “alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages” (RTDs). These are now defined as flavored beverages containing more than 0.5 percent and up to 15.0 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). Such beverages can be made from spirit or a mixture of spirits or any alcoholic beverage as a base, incorporating natural, nature-identical, or artificial flavors and permitted food additives. They may also include fruit or vegetable juice, herbs, or spices, with or without added sugar, caloric sweeteners, or salt, and can be carbonated. Carbonated RTDs must contain a minimum of one volume of carbon dioxide and adhere to the specifications outlined in TABLE-4 of the regulations. This amendment standardizes a growing category of pre-mixed alcoholic drinks.
Furthermore, sub-regulation 1.3.9 has been modified to explicitly classify alcoholic beverages with an ABV between 0.5 percent and 15.0 percent as “Alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage,” requiring them to conform to the new definition and TABLE-4 requirements.
2. Clarifications for Country and Indian Liquors: Part 2 of the regulations, specifically regulation 2.2 concerning “Country liquors or Indian Liquors,” has undergone a complete substitution. The revised regulation defines these as alcoholic beverages derived from the distillation of fermentable carbohydrates of agricultural origin. The amendment further delineates two specific types:
- Plain country liquor or Plain Indian liquor: This category encompasses liquors made from alcoholic distillates obtained from fermented molasses, jaggery (Gur), mash of cereals, potato, cassava, fruits, juice or sap of coconut and palm trees, mahua flowers, or any other agricultural carbohydrate source.
- Blended country liquor or Blended Indian liquor: Defined as a blend of an alcoholic distillate, rectified spirit, or neutral spirit.
These categories must comply with general requirements in PART 1 and specific requirements in TABLE-1. An Annexure-1 has been introduced to list product names and ingredients for these liquors, noting that the list is not exhaustive.
3. Expansion in Wine Categories and Craft Beer: Significant modifications have been made in PART-3, regulation 3.1, concerning wines:
- Fruit and Honey Wines: The heading for “Wine from fruits other than grapes” has been updated to “Fruit Wine (other than grape wine) along with Honey wine.” Crucially, a new clause, 3.1.4.4, introduces the definition of “Honey wine or Mead.” This is described as wine produced from the fermentation of an aqueous solution of honey by yeasts, without any other carbohydrate source. It may contain herbs, spices, or natural flavorings and must conform to TABLE-2 requirements, with an ethyl alcohol content ranging from 4% to 15.5%.
- Beverage Bases: Sub-regulation 3.1.5 now permits the use of “whole grains” in beverages derived from juice or sap, broadening the raw material base for certain alcoholic products.
- Carbonation in Wine-Based Beverages: Sub-regulation 3.1.6 clarifies that “Wine Based Beverages may or may not be carbonated,” providing flexibility for product development in this segment.
Additionally, PART 4, regulation 4.2, now includes a specific definition for “Nitro Craft Beer,” classifying it as craft beer containing a mixture of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) gas.
4. Updates to Tables and Annexures: The notification includes comprehensive revisions to the existing tables and introduces a new annexure:
- TABLE-1: Headings in columns 5 and 6 have been updated to reflect the new nomenclature for “Country Liquor, Indian Liquor, Plain Country Liquor or Plain Indian Liquor” and “Blended Country Liquors or Blended Indian Liquors.” The footnote also replaces “low alcoholic beverages” with “Ready to Drink Alcoholic Beverage.”
- TABLE-2: Column 7’s heading now explicitly includes “Honey wine” alongside “Fruit Wine (other than grape wine).” A footnote clarifies exceptions for characteristic properties.
- TABLE-3: Amendments address the use of “CO2 or Mixture of CO2 and N2 gas” for carbonation and modify the “Total plate count” reference. A new column for “Craft Beer Strong” (ABV more than 5.0 up to 8.0) has been inserted, along with corresponding footnotes clarifying the applicability of CO2 and N2 gas mixture for craft beer and the exclusion of Brewer’s yeast from Total Plate Count.
- TABLE-4: The heading has been changed to “Requirements for Alcoholic Ready-to–drink beverages,” and the permissible alcohol content range has been expanded from ‘>0.5 to 8.0’ to ‘>0.5 to ˂15.0’ percent.
5. New Annexure-1 Detailing Indian Liquors: Crucially, a new Annexure-1 has been appended after TABLE-4. This annexure provides three detailed tables listing various traditional and indigenous Indian alcoholic products, categorized by their production method and associated raw materials/starters, along with the specific product category they must comply with:
- Table I: Indian Liquors (Distilled Liquor): Lists 27 distilled alcoholic products such as Acham, Ark, Arak, Daru, Handia, Mahua, Raksi, Toddy liquor, and Zu, specifying their raw materials (e.g., rice, barley, molasses, mahua flowers) and their compliance with Table 1 (5) of the regulations.
- Table II: Indian Liquor (Undistilled Liquor): Includes products like Angoori/Kinnauri (grapes), Chulli (apricot), and Ghanti (apple and apricot), indicating their compliance with Table 2 categories (White Wine, Red Wine, Fruit Wine).
- Table III: Indian Liquor (Ready to Drink Alcoholic Beverage): Lists 51 ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages like Apong, Atingba, Bhang-chyang, Chhang, Judima, and Zutho, detailing their raw materials (e.g., various rice types, millets, jaggery, cassava tuber) and their compliance with Table 4.
A note within the Annexure clarifies that products specified in Tables I, II, and III that are already governed by any other Act and Regulations are exempt from the provisions of these specific FSSAI regulations.
Judicial Precedents
The notification from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India details regulatory amendments and does not cite or reference any specific judicial precedents. The document’s purpose is to formally publish the revised regulations following a mandatory public consultation process as required by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
In the broader context of food and beverage regulations in India, legal challenges often arise concerning interpretation of standards, enforcement actions, or disputes over classification. However, the current notification solely focuses on the legislative aspect of introducing new rules, rather than reviewing past legal outcomes.
Impact and Implementation
The comprehensive nature of these amendments suggests an effort by the FSSAI to streamline and modernize the regulatory framework for alcoholic beverages in India. By introducing clearer definitions, expanding categories, and providing detailed lists of traditional products, the authority aims to enhance food safety, facilitate compliance for manufacturers, and provide greater clarity for consumers. The delayed implementation date of January 1, 2026, is intended to provide the industry with sufficient time to adapt to the new standards and ensure compliance across production and labeling processes.
These changes are part of ongoing efforts to ensure that the rapidly evolving food and beverage sector in India operates under a robust and transparent regulatory regime.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th June, 2025
F. No. STD/SP-21/T(Alcohol-6).- Whereas the draft Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Amendment Regulations, 2023 were published as required by sub-section (1) of section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006), vide notification of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India number, F. No. STD/SP-21/T(Alcohol-6), dated the 11th May, 2023, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, inviting objections and suggestions from the persons likely to be affected thereby, before the expiry of the period of sixty days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public;
And whereas, the copies of the said Gazette were made available to the public on the 19th May, 2023;
And whereas, objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft regulations have been considered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 92 of the said Act, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India hereby makes the following regulations further to amend the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, namely: –
1. These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) first Amendment Regulations, 2025.
2. They shall come into force on 01st January, 2026.
3. In the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, –
(1) in PART-1,
(a) in regulation 1.2 relating to ‘Definitions’, after sub-regulation 1.2.4, the following shall be inserted, namely: –
‘1.2.4a. “alcoholic ready-to–drink beverages” means, flavored beverages having more than 0.5 and up to 15.0% of alcohol by volume, made from spirit or the mixture of spirit or any alcoholic beverage as base by adding natural or nature identical or artificial flavors and food additives permitted under the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, or a combination thereof, and fruit or vegetable juice or herbs or spices, or a combination thereof, with or without added sugar or caloric sweeteners or salt and with or without carbonation. In case of carbonated alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages, they shall be carbonated with carbon dioxide, which shall have a minimum of one volume of carbon dioxide and shall conform to the requirements of TABLE-4.]’.
(b) in regulation 1.3, in sub-regulation 1.3.9, after the proviso, for the words beginning with “Alcoholic beverage containing” and ending with “the requirements of TABLE-4”, the following shall be substituted, namely: –
“Alcoholic beverage containing more than 0.5 per cent abv and up to 15.0 per cent abv shall be called as Alcoholic ready-to–drink beverage and it shall conform to the definition provided under regulation 1.2 and the requirements of TABLE-4,”;
(2) in PART 2, for regulation 2.2, the following regulation shall be substituted, namely: –
“2.2 Country liquors or Indian Liquors: Country liquors or Indian Liquors or spirits are alcoholic beverages obtained from distillation of fermentable carbohydrates of agricultural origin. Country liquors or Indian made Liquors may also be of the following types, namely: –
2.2.1 Plain country liquor or Plain Indian liquor: Plain country liquor or Plain Indian liquor shall be made from alcoholic distillate obtained from fermented molasses, jaggery (Gur), mash of cereals, potato, cassava, fruits, juice or sap of coconut and palm trees, mahua flowers or any other carbohydrates of agricultural origin.
2.2.2 Blended country liquor or Blended Indian liquor: Blended country liquor or Blended Indian liquor is a blend of an alcoholic distillate, rectified spirit or neutral spirit.
Note: Country liquor or Indian liquor shall also conform to the general requirement specified in PART 1 and requirements specified in TABLE – 1. Product name and ingredients or raw materials for such products are specified in Annexure-1 of these regulations and the same are not exhaustive.”.
(3) in PART-3, in regulation 3.1, –
(a) in sub-regulation 3.1.4, –
(i) for the heading “Wine from fruits other than grapes”, the following heading shall be substituted, namely: – “Fruit Wine (other than grape wine) along with Honey wine”;
(ii) after clause 3.1.4.3, the following clause shall be inserted, namely: –
“3.1.4.4 Honey wine or Mead: Honey wine or Mead is a wine produced from the fermentation of an aqueous solution of honey by yeasts without addition of any other carbohydrate source. It may contain herbs, spices or natural flavourings and shall conform to the requirements provided under Table-2 except ethyl alcohol content which may vary between 4% to 15.5%.”;
(b) in sub-regulation 3.1.5, after the words “juice or sap”, the words “or whole grains” shall be inserted;
(c) in sub-regulation 3.1.6, after the words “or any other approved substance”, the words “Wine Based Beverages may or may not be carbonated.” shall be inserted,
(4) in PART 4, in regulation 4.2, after sub-regulation 4.2 (1), the following sub-regulation shall be inserted, namely: –
“4.2 (1) (i) Nitro Craft Beer- Nitro Craft Beer is the craft beer having the mixture of CO2 and N2 gas.”
(5) in TABLE-1, –
(a) for the heading in column 5, the following heading shall be substituted, namely: – “Country Liquor, Indian Liquor, Plain Country Liquor or Plain Indian Liquor”;
(b) for the heading in column 6, the following heading shall be substituted, namely: – “Blended Country Liquors or Blended Indian Liquors”;
(c) in the footnote, for the words “low alcoholic beverages”, the words “Ready to Drink Alcoholic Beverage” shall be substituted;
(6) in TABLE-2, –
(a) in column 7, in the heading, after the words “Fruit Wine (other than grape wine)”, the words “along with Honey wine” shall be inserted;
(b) in the foot note, for the words “in accordance with their”, the words “except the characteristic”, shall be substituted.
(7) in TABLE-3, –
(a) in Column 2,
(i) against serial number 3, for the words “Carbon dioxide, v/v, Min”, the words “CO2 or Mixture of CO2 and N2 gas, v/v, Min***” shall be substituted;
(ii) against serial number 10, for the words “Total plate count, cfu per ml”, the words, “Total plate count, cfu per ml **** ” shall be substituted.
(b) after column (7), the following column shall be inserted, namely: –
|
Craft Beer |
| Strong |
| (8) |
| More than 5.0 up to 8.0 |
| 3.3-4.8 |
| 1.8-3.6 |
| 50.0 |
| 2.0 |
| 5.0 |
| 0.2 |
| 0.25 |
| 0.1 |
| <100 |
| Absent |
|
Absent |
| * |
(c) after the existing footnotes, the following footnotes shall be inserted, namely: –
“ *** Mixture of CO2 and N2 gas is applicable for craft beer.
**** Does not include Brewer’s yeast.”.
(8) in TABLE 4, –
(a) for the existing heading, the heading “Requirements for Alcoholic Ready-to–drink beverages” shall be substituted;
(b) against serial number 1, in column (3), for the entry ‘>0.5 to 8.0’, the entry ‘>0.5 to ˂15.0’, shall be substituted.
(9) after TABLE 4, the following Annexure shall be inserted, namely: –
“Annexure-1
Table I: List of Indian Liquors (Distilled Liquor)
| S. No. | Alcoholic products | Raw materials and Starter | Product category to comply |
| 1 | Acham | Rice, chamri | Table 1 (5) |
| 2 | Ark or ara | Barley, apple, wild apricot | Table 1 (5) |
| 3 | Arak or Hor-Alank | Rice, Thap | Table 1 (5) |
| 4 | Aara | Cereals, paa, pee | Table 1 (5) |
| 5 | Basi | Rice | Table 1 (5) |
| 6 | Batta Sarai | Clear distilled liquor; alcoholic drink | Table 1(5) |
| 7 | Daru | Cereal | Table 1 (5) |
| 8 | Handia | Rice, ranu | Table 1 (5) |
| 9 | Haria | Rice and bhakar or dabai or mod pitha | Table 1 (5) |
| 10 | Juharo | Rice, humao | Table 1 (5) |
| 11 | Kiad | Rice, thiat | Table 1 (5) |
| 12 | Madda feni | Cashew fruit | Table 1 (5) |
| 13 | Madhu | Rice, khekhrii | Table 1 (5) |
| 14 | Madua Apong | Finger millet, phab | Table 1 (5) |
| 15 | Mahua | Dried corollas of Madhuca longifolia and ranu | Table 1 (5) |
| 16 | Nava Sagara/kandasarai | Jaggery, Molasses | Table 1(5) |
| 17 | Nchiangne | Red rice | Table 1 (5) |
| 18 | Raksi | Cereals and marcha | Table 1 (5) |
| 19 | Rakzu | Rice and dawdim | Table 1 (5) |
| 20 | Ruhi | Rice | Table 1 (5) |
| 21 | Soor | Fruits and keem | Table 1 (5) |
| 22 | Tin-zu | Rice and dawdim | Table 1 (5) |
| 23 | Toddy liquor | Made from distilled palm sap | Table 1(5) |
| 24 | Xaj pani/koloh pani | Rice, xaj pittha | Table 1 (5) |
| 25 | Yu | Rice, hamei | Table 1 (5) |
| 26 | Zu | Rice | Table 1 (5) |
| 27 | Zupui | Rice and dawdim | Table 1 (5) |
Table II: List of Indian Liquor (Undistilled Liquor)
| S. No. | Alcoholic products | Raw materials and Starter | Product category to comply |
| 1 | Angoori or kinnauri |
Grapes | Table 2 [White Wine (3) and Red Wine (4)] |
| 2 | Chulli | Apricot | Table 2 (7) |
| 3 | Ghanti | Apple and apricot | Table 2 (7) |
Table III: List of Indian Liquor (Ready to Drink Alcoholic Beverage)
| S. No. | Alcoholic products | Raw materials and Starter | Product category to comply |
| 1 | Apong or ennog | Rice, Apop pitha | Table 4 |
| 2 | Atingba | Rice, hamei | Table 4 |
| 3 | Ahom | Rice and vekur pitha | Table 4 |
| 4 | Bhaati jaanr | Rice, marcha | Table 4 |
| 5 | Bhang-chyang | Maizerice/ barley and pham | Table 4 |
| 6 | Buza | Barley | Table 4 |
| 7 | Chhang/Chyang/Chee/ Kodo ko jaanr |
Finger millet/barley and phab | Table 4 |
| 8 | Chhind | Extracted sap of chhind (Phoenix sylvestris) |
Table 4 |
| 9 | Chakti | Jaggery | Table 4 |
| 10 | Dekuijao | Rice | Table 4 |
| 11 | Duizou | Red rice, khekhrii | Table 4 |
| 12 | Ennog | Black rice, phut | Table 4 |
| 13 | Faapar ko jaanr | Buck wheat, marcha | Table 4 |
| 14 | Gahoon ko jaanr | Wheat, marcha | Table 4 |
| 15 | Jann or jaan | Rice, wheat and other cereals and balam | Table 4 |
| 16 | Jao ko jaanr | Barley, marcha | Table 4 |
| 17 | Jhara | Rice, dabai ranu | Table 4 |
| 18 | Jou | Rice, khekhrii | Table 4 |
| 19 | Jou Bishi | Rice, angkur | Table 4 |
| 20 | Judima | Rice, humao | Table 4 |
| 21 | Juhning | Rice | Table 4 |
| 22 | Kodo ko jaanr | Finger millet and marcha | Table 4 |
| 23 | Khor | Germinated rice | Table 4 |
| 24 | Kanji | Beet carrot root and torami | Table 4 |
| 25 | Langi | Rice, chowan | Table 4 |
| 26 | Laopani | Rice, pitha | Table 4 |
| 27 | Lugri | Barley | Table 4 |
| 28 | Mingari/Lohpani | Maize, rice or barley and pham | Table 4 |
| 29 | Makai ko jaanr | Maize, marcha | Table 4 |
| 30 | Nduijao | Rice | Table 4 |
| 31 | Nyongin | Rice, opop | Table 4 |
| 32 | Oa | Rice-fillet mixture, paa | Table 4 |
| 33 | Opo | Rice-millet | Table 4 |
| 34 | Pachwai | Rice, bhakar | Table 4 |
| 35 | Patso | Rice, chamri | Table 4 |
| 36 | Pendum | Rice, herbs, ranu or bhakar | Table 4 |
| 37 | Pheijou | Rice, husk, khai | Table 4 |
| 38 | Pona/Pone | Rice | Table 4 |
| 39 | Rak | Apple, wild almond, apricot and jiggery and phab |
Table 4 |
| 40 | Sez | Rice | Table 4 |
| 41 | Sujen | Rice and mod pitha or perok kushi | Table 4 |
| 42 | Sura | Finger millet | Table 4 |
| 43 | Simal tarul ko jaanr | Cassava tuber and marcha | Table 4 |
| 44 | Sira-Oa | Rice-fillet mixture, paa | Table 4 |
| 45 | Themsing | Finger millet/barley | Table 4 |
| 46 | Timpui | Rice, khai | Table 4 |
| 47 | Waiyu | Rice, husk, khai | Table 4 |
| 48 | Yu angouba | Germinated rice | Table 4 |
| 49 | Zoungao | Germinated rice | Table 4 |
| 50 | Zutho/Zhuchu | Rice, khekhrii | Table 4 |
| 51 | Zufang | Sticky rice and dawdim | Table 4 |
Note: The products specified in Table I, II and III of the Annexure, which are governed by any other Act and Regulations are exempted from the provisions of these Regulations.”.
G. KAMALA VARDHANA RAO, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./186/2025-26]
Note. – The principal regulations were published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part III, Section 4, vide notification number F. No. 2/SA-24/2009(1)/FSSAI, dated 19th March, 2018 and last amended vide notification no. F. No. STD/SP-21/T(Alcohol-4) dated 21st August, 2023.
