Coimbatore, 16 August 2026: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has withdrawn its order banning 11 liquor products manufactured by Enrica Enterprises Private Limited of Tiruvallur district, clearing the way for retail sales across Tamil Nadu, officials said on Saturday.
Central regulator reverses course after manufacturer appeal
The FSSAI had issued an order on 11 August to stop the sale of the 11 named products. The central body formally revoked that order on 14 August after Enrica filed an appeal and provided assurances of compliance with applicable standards, according to the Prohibition and Excise department.
Following the revocation, the state department notified the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac), authorising depots and retail outlets to resume transfers and sale of the varieties immediately, sources said.
State denies role in ban or its withdrawal
Prohibition and Excise Minister K. Vignesh stressed that the state government neither imposed nor lifted the ban. He told media that information about the FSSAI action reached him on the afternoon of Friday, 14 August, and he learned of the revocation the following morning.
“We cannot directly check liquor quality through the state food safety department when a liquor manufacturer’s business exceeds ₹50 crore. FSSAI is the only authority to check quality for such manufacturing units,” the minister said, according to the department briefing.
“This is being politicised without knowing the facts,” the minister added, noting that both the enforcement and the reversal were actions taken by the central regulator.
State to pursue expanded quality checks
Even as the sales ban has been lifted, the Prohibition and Excise department said it will initiate consultations with experts to explore mechanisms to verify liquor quality in the state. The minister indicated the department will consider options to test not only the 11 products but a wider range of brands purchased by Tasmac.
Officials pointed to a legal limitation: state food safety authorities are not empowered to inspect or test products from manufacturing units whose annual turnover exceeds ₹50 crore. For such units, statutory responsibility rests with the FSSAI.
- Products involved: 11 liquor brands produced by Enrica Enterprises Private Limited (Tiruvallur).
- Regulator: FSSAI issued the original ban on 11 August and revoked it on 14 August after an appeal by the manufacturer.
- State action: Prohibition and Excise department authorised Tasmac depots and outlets to resume transfers and sales following the revocation.
Political reaction and public concern
The abrupt imposition and subsequent withdrawal of the ban has sparked criticism and political debate. Opposition parties and some civil-society voices have questioned the sequence of events and demanded clearer, routine quality assurance for alcoholic beverages sold in the state.
In response, the Excise department said it will explore legal and administrative avenues to augment quality checks, potentially in collaboration with the FSSAI. The department noted Tamil Nadu’s retail portfolio includes more than 100 varieties across multiple brands procured by Tasmac, underscoring the scale of any planned monitoring exercise.
What this means for consumers and retailers
With the FSSAI order rescinded, Tasmac depots and authorised retail outlets have been allowed to distribute and sell the 11 brands immediately. Consumers in the state should expect availability to return to normal as stock moves through the supply chain.
However, officials said customers and trade associations may seek clearer public information on the reasons for the initial FSSAI order and the grounds for its revocation. The Excise department’s pledged consultations aim to build a framework that could reduce such uncertainties in the future.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| FSSAI ban (11 Aug) | Issued |
| FSSAI revocation (14 Aug) | Revoked after manufacturer appeal |
| Tasmac sales (15 Aug onward) | Allowed to resume |
The Prohibition and Excise department said it will announce the outcomes of expert consultations and any proposed regulatory or procedural changes once decisions are taken. For now, the legal responsibility to inspect and certify products manufactured by large units remains with the FSSAI, and the department has urged coordinated action to ensure consumer safety.
(Selvan Murugesan in Coimbatore)
