(a) whether the European Union has allowed India to sell Indian whisky in EU countries as reported in the `Economic Times` of 15 April, 2002 under the captioned `Grain drain: EU asks India to sell its whisky as rum`;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether European Union has put any condition for sale of whisky in European Union Countries;
(d) if so, the details thereof;
(e) the reasons behind said conditions; and
(f) the response of the Indian Government thereto?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (SHRI RAJIV PRATAP RUDY)
(a) to (f) As per the EU classification, whisky is a spirit obtained exclusively from cereals by distillation and matured for a period of 3 years. This classification is being followed by the World Customs Organisation and over 60 countries world wide including countries in Europe and North America. The whisky made in India is molasses based and are not matured for 3 years and hence are classified as `other spirits` under Common Customs Tariff of the European Union.
The question of classification of Indian whisky in European Union (EU) countries and related tariff issues are under discussion with the EU in order to provide better access for Indian whisky in EU market.