Chennai: The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) has ordered an immediate halt to the sale of 11 liquor varieties manufactured by Enrica Enterprises Pvt Ltd after an inspection by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found that the products contained nature-identical and artificial flavouring substances.The directive issued by Tasmac managing director K Nanthakumar on Thursday instructed its regional and district managers and depot managers to stop the transfer and sale of the identified brands at retail vending (RV) shops from depots and also stop their sale to FL2 (recreational clubs) and FL3 licence holders (hotels) until further orders.Enrica Enterprises Ltd supplies more than 20 liquor varieties/brands to Tasmac, and some of the banned varieties are in the ordinary range of liquor, which Tasmac sells the most, compared to medium and premium varieties. The 11 brands covered by the order are VSOP Exshaw Gold Brandy, Louis Vernant XO Blended Premium Brandy, McDowells VSOP Brandy, No1 McDowells Fine Brandy, Mensclub Deluxe Brandy, Honey Bee Fine Brandy, Enrica VSOP Select Brandy, Enrica Platinum Reserve XO Brandy, Enrica Premium French Brandy, Veeran Special Brandy and Enrica Old Indie Classic Dark Rum.As part of the nationwide drive for food safety and labelling regulations for liquor brands, FSSAI’s southern regional office inspected the manufacturing unit of Enrica Enterprises in Poonamallee, Tiruvallur district on Tuesday. The regulatory body instructed distributors, wholesalers and retailers not to sell the identified products to consumers.The FSSAI also recommended that the state govt stop the sale of the products with immediate effect. Subsequently, on Wednesday, the prohibition and excise commissioner forwarded the FSSAI’s directions to Tasmac. “There are regulations with respect to the use of additives and colouring agents and permissible levels,” said FSSAI officials.
