The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a draft notification on 30 October 2025 proposing amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018. The draft, titled Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Amendment Regulations, 2025, has been published for public comments, which may be submitted within 60 days to the Chief Executive Officer, FSSAI, at its New Delhi office or via email. The proposed amendments include three key changes. First, in Part 3, regulation 3.1.2.2 relating to sparkling wine, clause (i) concerning “Brut” would now specify a sugar content “below 1.2 percent with a tolerance of 0.3 percent.” Second, in regulation 3.1.6 regarding wine-based beverages, the words “or special wine used” would be deleted. Third, in Part 5, regulation 5.2 on labeling of standard drinks, the word “may” would be replaced with “shall,” thereby making labeling mandatory. These changes aim to refine standards for alcoholic beverages, ensuring greater clarity in product specifications and labeling obligations. The notification, signed by FSSAI Chief Executive Officer Rajit Punhani, notes that the principal regulations were first notified on 19 March 2018 and last amended on 20 June 2025. The draft regulations will be finalized after consideration of feedback received within the stipulated period.
FOOD SAFETY AND STANDARDS AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 30th October, 2025
F. No. SS-T0SP21(NOTI)/1/2025-Standard-FSSAI.—The following draft of certain regulations to further amend the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, which the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India proposes to make, with previous approval of the Central Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 92 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) is hereby published as required by sub-section (1) of section 92 of the said Act, for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby, and notice is hereby given that the said draft regulations shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of the period of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Official Gazette in which this notification is published are made available to the public;
Objections or suggestions, if any, may be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FDA Bhawan, Kotla Road, New Delhi- 110002 or may be sent by e-mail at regulation@fssai.gov.in;
Objections or suggestions which may be received with respect to the said draft regulations within the period specified above shall be considered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.
Draft Regulations
1. These regulations may be called the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Amendment Regulations, 2025.
2. In the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018,-
a. In part 3, regulation 3.1.2.2 relating to Sparkling wine, in clause (i) relating to Brut, after the words ‘sugar content below 1.2 per cent’, the words ‘with a tolerance of 0.3 per cent’ shall be inserted.
b. In part 3, regulation 3.1.6 relating to Wine Based Beverages, the words ‘or special wine used’ shall be deleted.
c. In part 5, regulations 5.2 relating to Labeling of standard drink, for the word ‘may’, the word ‘shall’ shall be substituted.
RAJIT PUNHANI, Chief Executive Officer
[ADVT.-III/4/Exty./439/2025-26]
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 the 19th March, 2018 and last amended vide notification numbers F. No. STD/SP-21/T(Alcohol-6) dated the 20th June, 2025.
