Goa to remove country liquor tag from Feni, just like Tequila and scotch. Goan Feni is one of the identities of Goa which was tagged in the lines of Tequila and scotch which were once country liquor. It’s good news for Goans and especially to the feni lovers that Goan feni is all set to go to different places as the state government is ready to alter the four-decade-old Excise Act to give this traditional drink a ‘Heritage Spirit’ tag. This is what Goa’s Commissioner of Excise has to say and how this alteration of an act will benefit the state. Read the report here.
[su_expand more_text=”READ MORE” less_text=” ” height=”0″ hide_less=”yes” link_style=”button” link_align=”center”] Menino D’Souza, Commissioner of Excise, Goa said that, “The state government will move an amendment to the Goa Excise Duty Act, 1964, which will save Feni from being tagged as country liquor and instead would be classified as Heritage Spirit.”
D’Souza added, “We want to place Feni alongside tequila and scotch, which used to be country liquor once.”
The process to get rid of the ‘unwanted’ tag of feni will begin two months from now. This alteration of the Act is expected to happen in the monsoon session of the Goa Assembly scheduled for July. This will surely open up the markets for Feni across the country which will make it a branded product in the forthcoming years.
As Feni have already won the Geographical Indication recognition, the Feni refining industry are demanding the removal of the country liquor tag. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar recently has announced the decision to accord Feni the status of a Heritage Spirit.
Feni marketing was facing a barrier due to the country liquor label and its sale is not allowed in any other state except Daman because of its country liquor status.
The only concern after this amendment is that the drink once exported could become more expensive as the State is mandated to pay duty. However, as said by D’Souza that the brand would in turn bring extra revenue to the manufacturers and the State.
Source: INDIA TODAY
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