PANAJI
In a significant move to promote authentic cashew feni, the Excise Department has awarded the first Geographical Indication (GI) process certificate to Cazcar Distillery in Bicholim for the distillation and bottling of cashew feni.
The certificate was issued following an inspection by the Conformity Assessment Board (CAB), led by excise commissioner Ankita Mishra. Officials from both the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) and the excise department attended the inspection.
CAB is responsible for verifying the authenticity of Goa’s traditional liquor. In line with the Goa Feni Policy 2021, an inspection is mandatory to ensure that the production, bottling, and sale of feni adhere to the set guidelines.
Only distillers who successfully pass the inspection are permitted to display the GI logo on their feni products. Despite the advantages of this certification, only a few manufacturers have sought it so far.
Currently, only one application has been submitted, but the department expects more soon. The excise department aims to see more GI-certified feni brands on the market by next year.
With roughly 700 cashew feni distillers across Goa, the department emphasised the straightforward certification process and encouraged more units to apply.
