Indian Single Malt Whisky Makers Push for Separate FSSAI Standards

Indian single malt whisky makers are advocating for distinct standards to be established by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). This initiative is driven by the growing global recognition of Indian single malts, which are gaining popularity for their quality and winning prestigious international awards.

The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), representing domestic alcoholic beverage manufacturers, is spearheading the effort. CIABC Director General Anant S. Iyer has emphasized the importance of revising FSSAI regulations to define Indian single malt whisky accurately. According to Iyer, single malt whisky should originate from a single distillery, ensuring authenticity and preventing misrepresentation. Currently, some products are misleadingly labeled as single malts despite not meeting these criteria.

The proposed standards aim to protect the reputation of Indian single malts and distinguish producers adhering to traditional and proper methods from those who do not. This move would safeguard the category’s integrity while setting benchmarks for production practices.

In addition to approaching the FSSAI, Indian distillers are seeking a geographical indication (GI) tag for Indian single malt whisky. A GI tag would establish minimum production standards and enhance brand credibility, further validating the authenticity of Indian single malts.

This push for dedicated standards comes in alignment with FSSAI’s recent implementation of definitions for single malt and single grain whiskies, effective from March 1, 2024. The initiative highlights the increasing prominence of Indian single malts in the global market, where they compete with Scotch, American, and Japanese counterparts.

The industry’s combined efforts to achieve regulatory recognition and GI tagging underscore its commitment to protecting and elevating the reputation of Indian single malt whisky on a global scale.