Excise and Prohibition Minister Kollu Ravindra announced that the Andhra Pradesh government will soon introduce new standards and procedures to ensure better quality control of liquor.
A total of 13 new testing parameters will be introduced, covering the blending process as well as additional tests like extra-neutral alcohol (ENA) testing and gas chromatography. These tests will be conducted at regional excise laboratories in Visakhapatnam, Guntur, Chittoor, Kurnool, and Kakinada. The aim is to ensure that all types of liquor meet the standards set by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Currently, the testing process is limited to six parameters for ENA, but this will be upgraded. The new system will include more detailed tests, moving beyond basic checks like ethyl alcohol, acidity, aldehydes, methanol, and water content. Previously, only the alcohol strength of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) was tested before bottling.
The updated process will also involve testing blended liquors like whisky, brandy, vodka, and gin based on nine new parameters before bottling. These changes, which include adopting advanced technology, are aimed at preventing chemical reactions and improving the overall quality of liquor.
