Benchmark:The standard also becomes important for Indian winemakers
looking at the export market
By year-end, Indian Wine Standards will be in place
As Indian-made wines try to win over connoisseurs in a
niche market, instances of poor quality beverage threatens the nascent
industry. However, by November this year, Indian Wine Standards are set
to be implemented to protect consumers’ interest and regulate wine
production.
Currently without any standards, the wine
industry is largely unregulated (except for excise rules), unlike in
other wine-producing countries.
Concerned about the
quality of wines, a draft proposal on the Indian Wine Standards notified
by the Indian Grape Processing Board under the Union Ministry of Food
Processing Industries, is being debated by the industry stakeholders and
officials concerned.
“Except for the alcohol content
and the grape varietal used, nothing is known about most wines. There
is no chemical analysis to ascertain the contents. In fact, there is no
control over production, processing and bottling of wine in the
country,” Robin Somaiah, chief executive officer of Surya Devine, told
The Hindu
. This is a serious concern for the wine industry that can also become a
health hazard if “unfit wine” is sold to consumers, he added.
According
to industry estimates, the country’s 65-odd wineries produce 1.5 crore
litres of wine annually and market them through about 300 labels.
Karnataka has 17 wineries that produce about 34 lakh litres annually
that are sold through about 70 labels. “The standard also becomes
important for Indian winemakers looking at the export market. Current
tests are being conducted only to find out the alcohol content,” said
Mr. Somaiah, who was part of the state-level deliberations recently.
Tests
proposed at the meeting concern glycols, esters, higher alcohol,
aldehydes and microbiological parameters such as mould and bacteria that
are related to health hazards.
To maintain quality, tests such as ethyl alcohol content, water, sugar, tartaric acid, and pH content have been proposed.
Meanwhile,
Karnataka Wine Board Managing Director Mahantesh Murgod said 11
laboratories approved by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products
Export Development Authority (APEDA), including one in Bangalore, have
been identified to undertake tests. “Chemical analysis on the wines will
be made on 10 parameters. Legal action would be initiated against those
violating the standards,” he added.
Draft proposals
According
to him, the stakeholders’ meetings in Karnataka and Maharashtra are
over and done with and the Union Government is in the process of
submitting the draft proposals to Food Safety and Standards Authority of
India (FSSAI), following which it would be notified. “In all
probability, the standards would be announced in November this year.
This will not only benefit the customers, but also the industry as
Indian wines could be exported,” he added.
The wine industry is largely unregulated, unlike in other wine-producing countries
Current tests are being conducted only to find out the alcohol content
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