G/TBT/W/675  
 
23 July 2019  
(19-4887) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
INDIA - DRAFT FOOD S AFETY AND STANDARDS (ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES   
STANDARDS) REGULATIO NS, 2015  
STATEMENT BY INDIA  TO THE COMMITTEE ON  TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE  
20 AND 21 JUNE 2019  
The following communication, dated 22 July 2019, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of India. 
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We would also thank the delegation of the European Union for their interest in the matter.  
My delegation would like to recall the detailed statement made by India in vari ous previous 
meetings of the TBT Committee. After conclusion of the previous meetings, my delegation had 
passed on written responses to the delegation of EU. On some of the additional queries raised by EU 
prior to the last meeting of TBT Committee, my dele gation had provided the relevant information to 
the concerned delegation of EU on 22 March 2018. Accordingly, my delegation believes that India 
has already responded to most of the questions raised, either through written responses or orally 
during the com mittee meetings.  
In brief, my delegation would like to state that:  
a. A comprehensive set of standards on Alcoholic Beverages namely the "Food Safety and 
Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 " has been gazette notified on 
19 March  2018. These regu lations have been formulated based on existing national 
standards (BIS) and international standards like OIV while taking into consideration the 
stakeholder comments including those of WTO Member countries and keeping in view the 
prevailing Indian conditio ns and practices.  
b. Comments submitted by EU were duly considered and wherever appropriate, suitable 
amendments were made to the Regulation. In particular, the provisions of Additives are 
now largely harmonized with OIV standards as requested by EU delegatio n. Accordingly, 
standards for additives /enzymes/processing aids for use in category 14.2 (Alcoholic 
Beverages including alcohol free and low alcoholic counterparts) are prescribed in table 14 
of FSS (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations,  2016 (notified on 
5 Septembe r 2016). Further provisions of additional additives/ processing aids and 
enzymes for grapes wine, distilled spirituous beverages and aromatized alcoholic 
beverages have been notified on 31 July 2017 in FSS (Food Product Standar ds and Food 
Additives) Regulations, 2017.  
c. With regard to  GI products, it is again informed to the Members that all GI products have 
been omitted from the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018 
as the GI products in general are regulated through "Intellectual Property Act " (IPR act) 
of India. Further a draft amendment is under consideration whereby products with GI need 
to comply with the quality standards of their respective country of origin. However, GI 
products shall meet the food safety parameters and labelling requirements as give n under 
FSSAI regulations.  G/TBT/W/675  
 
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  d. My delegation would like to inform the Members that as per direction issued on 
5 February  2019 related to labeling of alcoholic beverages whereby it was stated that font 
size of the statutory warning on label of Alcoholic Beverag es, "CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL 
IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH. BE SAFE  - DONT DRINK AND DRIVE ", as specified in 
regulation  5.12, shall be not less than 1.5mm for the pack size 200ml and shall not be 
less than 3mm for pack size above 200ml.  
e. Also, as per the order dat ed 14  Januar y 2019 to facilitate ease of trade for imported 
consignments, in addition to special dispensation for rectification of labeling deficiencies 
provided under Reg 6(4) of Food Safety & Standards (Import) Regulations, 2017, the 
labeling of informat ion as per regulation 5.12 of FSS (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 
2018 i.e. CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL IS INJURIOUS TO HEALTH. BE SAFE  - DONT DRINK 
AND DRIVE " would also be allowed to be rectified. This rectification can be carried out by 
affixing non detac hable sticker next to principle display panel. This rectification can be 
done at Custom bonded warehouse before visual inspection by Authorized Officer or his 
representative.  
f. We had a constructive bilateral meeting with the EU on these issues. We look for ward for 
similar bilateral meetings with Members, if they still have any further concerns.  
 
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