Key Update

Mohan Rocky Springwater Breweries Pvt Ltd, the maker of the popular Old Monk rum brand, has withdrawn its petition before the Bombay High Court challenging the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) restrictions on the sale of certain product variants over labelling and product descriptions.

FSSAI objected to the company’s use of the term “rum” on products containing added flavouring agents and directed it to label and market them as “rum-flavoured spirit” instead. The regulator also questioned descriptions such as “7 Years Old Blended” and “Very Old Vatted”. The authority barred the company from selling and distributing several Old Monk products manufactured at its Khopoli facility in Maharashtra.

During Thursday’s hearing, a bench comprising Chief Justice Maheshchandra Tripathi and Justice Advait Sethna heard the company’s decision to revise the product labels and submit the updated versions to FSSAI for approval. The company withdrew its petition after the High Court declined to grant interim relief against the regulator’s order. It subsequently decided not to pursue the legal challenge on merits, prompting the court to dispose of the matter.

Why Did FSSAI Restrict the Sale of Certain Old Monk Products?

The dispute centres on the classification and labelling of specific Old Monk variants. FSSAI argued that products containing added flavouring agents should not carry the description “rum”. Instead, the company must market them as “rum-flavoured spirit”. The regulator also questioned the company’s use of age-related and product descriptions, including “7 Years Old Blended” and “Very Old Vatted”, raising concerns over their compliance with applicable labelling requirements. FSSAI’s order restricted the sale and distribution of several products manufactured at the company’s Khopoli facility.

Old Monk Maker Cited Over ₹350 Crore Loss in Excise Revenue

Earlier, the company claimed that the sales restrictions had cost the Maharashtra government more than ₹350 crore in excise revenue. However, after the Bombay High Court refused to grant interim relief, the company withdrew its petition rather than continue the legal challenge. It now plans to revise the product labels and submit them to FSSAI for approval.

Source: Livemint