![\"Diageo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/iStock-944869054-3-1-1024x683-1-2-640x427.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDiageo has taken its dispute with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to court, challenging a prohibition order against one of its popular rum brands. The drinks group argues that the regulator failed to follow due legal process and maintains that it has fully complied with Indian law.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Diageo has taken its dispute with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to court, challenging a prohibition order against one of its popular rum brands.<\/p>\n
The company argues that the action was taken without following due legal process. It denies any illegality and says it always fully complies with the law.<\/p>\n
The dispute concerns McDowell\u2019s No. 1 Celebration Matured XXX Rum, manufactured by United Spirits, Diageo\u2019s India subsidiary, in Maharashtra state.<\/p>\n
Diageo questions regulator\u2019s authority<\/p>\n
United Spirits has argued in the Mumbai High Court that the food safety officer who issued the prohibition order \u201cdid not have the legal authority\u201d to do so.<\/p>\n
It also claims that the regulator bypassed the required adjudicatory process by relying on a food analyst\u2019s report to stop sales.<\/p>\n
The prohibition came when India\u2019s food safety regulator was consulting the industry on how flavouring in alcoholic beverages should be declared and regulated<\/a>.<\/p>\n Ban remains in place<\/p>\n According to court filings reviewed by Reuters<\/a>, United Spirits has argued that continuing the prohibition while FSSAI was still considering the regulatory issue was \u201cpremature, disproportionate and commercially prejudicial\u201d.<\/p>\n The court made no ruling, so the ban remains in place until the next hearing, which is scheduled for next week.<\/p>\n Related news<\/p>\n \n \n
\n India seizes US$1.6m of Diageo products over bottle markings
\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n
\n Lewis bets on Guinness and RTDs in Diageo recovery strategy
\n <\/a>\n <\/p>\n