FSSAI refuses to extend energy drink label deadline for giants

The Story in Brief

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has refused to extend its 90-day deadline for companies to drop 'energy drink' labels, rejecting a plea from PepsiCo, Red Bull, Monster Beverage and Reliance for a one-year window. A government source told Reuters that many states can sell existing stock within 60-90 days, and that companies 'should be happy (India) is not prosecuting them' for breaching regulations. The FSSAI had in July ordered the change, citing the absence of Indian standards for such products.

Beverage firms are also urging the government to halt seizures by states like Rajasthan and Ladakh, which have begun enforcement drives. Industry sources say tracking inventory across states is difficult due to volume. The energy drink market in India is growing 12.6% annually, with retail sales reaching 907 million litres last year, according to Euromonitor. Global health concerns over caffeine and sugar content have led England to ban such drinks for under-16s from April 2026.