Indian Spirit Makers Flag Discrimination Against Foreign Brands by States' Excise Policies

The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies has approached several state governments pointing out the anomalies in their excise policies

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NEW DELHI: Indian spirit makers have raised concerns over alleged discrimination by several states, saying their excise policies are biased in favor of imported alcoholic beverages compared to domestic brands.

The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has approached several state governments, pointing out that anomalies in their excise policies put Indian spirit manufacturers at a disadvantage compared to their foreign counterparts. The Indian brands face "exorbitantly high brand registration fees" compared to imported BIO (bottled in origin), hampering product entry in a number of states, said CIABC, the apex body of Indian alcoholic beverage makers.

The CIABC further said that with new free trade agreements coming into effect, the customs duty is going to be reduced further on BIO products, and the prevalent high excise duties by the state government on Indian premium brands will make the home-grown industry "less competitive."