Chennai: Less than a day after announcing a ban on 11 varieties of liquor at Tasmac outlets, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) revoked the ban on Saturday. FSSAI had banned the sale of 10 varieties of brandy and one rum brand by an order dated Aug 11. The revocation decision came after the company promised to bring its products into compliance within 30 days.On Tuesday, following an inspection at the manufacturing unit, FSSAI’s southern regional office issued a prohibitory order against the 11 liquor varieties. The order said the distiller had used nature-identical and artificial flavouring substances. The state prohibition and excise commissionerate wrote to the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) on Thursday, directing it to stop procurement of liquor from Enrica and ban its sale in retail shops.On Friday, retail sale was stopped. FSSAI, however, issued a fresh communication the same day, revoking its earlier prohibition order. The prohibition commissioner communicated the same to the Tasmac management.While FSSAI’s U-turn raised eyebrows, officials said the company had appealed against the prohibition order, promising compliance. The authority then revoked the prohibition order and issued an improvement notice. “The improvement notice is valid for 30 days. By then the distiller must submit a compliance report,” said FSSAI director (southern regional office) V K Pancham.The improvement notice insists on labelling rules and general practices, including good manufacturing practices and good hygiene practices under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Act. Existing stock of the said liquor varieties is safe for consumption and can be sold, FSSAI said. The regulatory body is expected to carry out similar inspections at other liquor manufacturing units in the state in the coming weeks.Tasmac officials said they are yet to formally communicate the information to district managers, as liquor shops are closed on Saturday owing to Independence Day. “If we receive any confirmation on lifting the ban on Sunday, we will sell those liquor varieties,” said a representative of Tasmac’s retail employees.
