Mohan Meakin has challenged FSSAI's restrictions on IMFL products containing artificial or nature-identical rum/whisky flavouring, arguing that its affected products have been sold as rum under the prevailing regulatory framework for decades. The dispute directly impacts its flagship Old Monk brand.
The Bombay High Court did not grant immediate ad-interim relief, instead asking FSSAI and the Union government to file their responses before considering temporary relief. The next hearing is scheduled for 24 August 2026.
For Mohan Meakin, the issue has a direct financial impact. The company's counsel told the court that it was losing around ₹1 crore per day, while existing inventory and packaging cannot simply be relabelled because changes require approvals from state excise authorities.
Importantly, the court indicated that the core issue is regulatory compliance and labelling authorisation, rather than product quality or safety. This means the eventual outcome could determine whether affected Old Monk products can continue under their existing classification or require relabelling as flavoured spirits.
