The FSSAI has taken the decision to operationalise these provisions based on recommendation of the scientific panel.
The direction says that in view of the recommendation and observation by the scientific panel on food additives, it has been decided to operationalise the revised provisions related to use of certain food colour in distilled spirituous beverages except the country liquor. The FBOs can use 100gm/kg of these colours based on recommendations of the scientific panel.
According to the draft, the additives ‘tatrazine and carmoisine’ can only be used individually and their combination is not permitted. Further, Brilliant Blue FCF, Sunset Yellow FCF, Ponceau 4R and Allura Red are not permitted to be used in country liquors as defined under Regulations 2.2 of the FSS Alcoholic Beverages Regulations 2018.
Meanwhile the direction says that on receipt of representation from the stakeholders, the scientific panel had recommended permission of food colour namely ‘Allura Red’ in the food category distilled spirituous beverages except for country liquor upto 100mg/kg.
These regulations were made operational with immediate effect, says an official with the FSSAI while adding that the provisions were made in accordance with the observation of the scientific panel and based on the representation of the stakeholders, received by the FSSAI.