United Spirits, Associated Alcohol challenge FSSAI notices in courts

United Spirits and Associated Alcohol & Breweries have approached the Bombay and Madhya Pradesh High Courts, respectively, challenging FSSAI notices over alleged use of flavours that mimic alcoholic beverages' natural profiles, while industry bodies have also taken up the issue with the regulator

New Delhi: AlcoBev makers United Spirits and Associated Alcohol & Breweries have moved the Bombay High Court and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, respectively, challenging the FSSAI directive that indicted them for adding flavours that mimic a product’s natural profile.

Leading player United Spirits Ltd, part of British multinational Diageo PLC, has moved the Bombay High Court against the Centre and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

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Associated Alcohol & Breweries Ltd had moved the Madhya Pradesh High Court on July 31 against the notice issued by the food regulator. The Indore bench of the high court has scheduled the case for hearing on Wednesday.

Besides, the matter is also being taken up with the FSSAI by the respective industry associations, CIABC (Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies) and ISWAI (International Spirits & Wines Association of India).

USL, in a regulatory filing, said it has “filed a Writ Petition before the Bombay High Court” challenging the FSSAI order dated June 29, 2026, in relation to the sale of one of the products manufactured at the company’s Baramati unit on the ground that the product labels are not in conformity with the provisions of the FSSAI.

Based on legal advice, the company is of the view that the declarations on the product labels in question are in compliance with the current applicable legal and regulatory framework in India and are consistent with the long-standing industry practices.

“The company has therefore challenged the order by filing a Writ Petition on August 1, 2026, before the Bombay High Court,” it said.

Earlier on Sunday, FSSAI had said it had issued notices to several alcoholic beverage manufacturing units of United Spirits and INBREW Beverages for adding flavours that mimic a product’s natural profile.

In an official statement, FSSAI had clarified that there is no prohibition on the use of flavouring substances.

The regulator said the notices had been issued as certain manufacturers were adding the flavour of the standardised alcoholic beverage itself, for instance, the addition of rum flavour in rum or whisky flavour in whisky.

On July 10, FSSAI said it had issued notices to alcoholic beverage manufacturers for alleged violations of the Food Safety and Standards (Alcoholic Beverages) Regulations, 2018, including the unauthorised use of added flavours and non-compliance with age-related claims.

Last month, when the regulator issued the notices, it did not disclose the names of the AlcoBev players or their respective plants.

Issuing a clarification on Sunday explaining its position, FSSAI said a notice had been issued to the Baramati plant of United Spirits Ltd (USL), which produces McDowell’s No 1 Rum.

Besides, it also named the USL Madhya Pradesh plant, which produces Antiquity Blue Whisky and Royal Challenge Whisky.

It also named INBREW Beverages’ Madhya Pradesh plant for its brands Bagpiper Deluxe Whisky and Old Cask Deluxe XXX Rum, and Associated Alcohol & Breweries for Central Province Whisky and contract manufacturing of McDowell’s No 1 Celebration Matured XXX Rum.