Parliament passes bill on potable alcohol

Govt would continue to be responsible for formulating policy, regulating FDI for all products of fermentation industries

Parliament Tuesday passed the Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 which seeks to transfer from the Centre to states the control over industries engaged in the production of potable alcohol, with Lok Sabha approving some technical amendments.

The bill in the Lok Sabha was introduced by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and was later approved by the House amid din.

The bill was earlier approved by the Rajya Sabha last month and certain changes were adopted by the Lower House.

The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 seeks to amend a schedule to exclude production of alcohol for potable purposes from the ambit of the Act.

According to the Bill, the central government would continue to be responsible for formulating policy and regulating foreign collaboration (FDI and foreign technology collaboration agreements) for all products of fermentation industries, including industrial and potable alcohol.