What specific legal and procedural arguments did Diageo raise in its court challenge against the ban on McDowell's No. 1 Celebration Matured XXX Rum?

Diageo argued that the food safety officer who issued the prohibition order lacked legal authority to do so, bypassed the required adjudicatory process by relying solely on a food analyst’s report to impose the stop-sale order, and that the continued enforcement of the ban—while the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was actively consulting the industry on flavour labelling rules—was premature, disproportionate, and commercially prejudicial.

What was the FSSAI's stated basis for banning McDowell's No. 1 Celebration Matured XXX Rum, and how did it conflict with the product's labelling?

The FSSAI banned the rum for misbranding, asserting that 'flavor of rum should be characteristic based on the natural ingredients, fermentation processes, and maturation techniques', whereas the product’s label declared it contained 'artificial flavour (rum)', which the regulator deemed inconsistent with its definition of authentic rum flavour.

Diageo Challenges India Rum Ban Over Due Process Concerns

Aug 11, 2026

Diageo contests India's ban on McDowell's rum, alleging regulatory due process violations regarding mislabelling and artificial flavour claims while authorities review standards.

reuters

2026-08-02

India Bars Some Diageo, Inbrew Liquor Over Flavouring Violations

2026-08-08

India Warns Diageo Over Misleading Whisky Maturation Claims

2026-08-11

Diageo Challenges India Rum Ban Over Due Process Concerns

2026-08-17

Diageo Agrees to Reformulate India Whisky and Rum After Flavouring Breach, Sources Say

Diageo Challenges India Rum Ban Over Due Process Concerns

FAQ