FDA inspectors denied liquor samples by Doon shopkeepers

Dehradun: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday faced much resistance from liquor shop owners during its drive to collect beer samples for testing. Most shopkeepers refused to give the samples, saying liquor shops were governed by the excise department. The one shopkeeper that did agree to give a sample refused to fill out the paper work.

Talking to TOI, food safety inspector Yogendra Pandey said that the FDA was carrying out the drive across the city under the newly-formed regulation of Food Safety Standard named alcoholic beverages regulation 2018, under which even the FDA has to keep a tab on English liquor and its quality. “We planned to collect beer samples from the shops of Dehradun but there was too much resistance. Shopkeepers not only denied us samples, but also checked our IDs and permission letters to enter their shops. We had to explain to them the new rule which necessiated the collection of beer samples, but to no avail," said Pandey.

The FDA issued notices to several shopkeepers in the industrial area of Dehradun and in Transport Nagar for poor upkeep and maintenance.

“Finally one shopkeeper agreed to give us a sample of English beer but even he refused to fill out the required paperwork. There should be awareness among people that the FDA has the authority to collect samples of any food or beverage, that is registered under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or the FDA," said Pandey, adding that the drive will continue on Tuesday.

As per alcoholic beverages regulation 2018, the FSSAI and FDA have to ensure that food and safety standards are followed in the packaging and labelling of both Indian-made and imported liquor. The FDA also has to check the declarations made by the manufacturers about alcohol content, allegers and statutory warnings on the liquor bottles.