The government has extended the mandatory quality certification deadline for aluminum beverage cans by six months to April 2027. This will give producers more time to ramp up their production amid supply shortages. This supply shortage is also affecting Diet Coke and some beer brands. Earlier its deadline was 31 October. A major can manufacturing company said in an ET report that a new deadline has been issued for various types of manufacturers last week. Large companies will have to comply from April 1, 2027, small companies from July 1, 2027 and micro (very small) companies from October 1, 2027.

Kane’s share doubled in two years

In India, sales of beer and soft drinks sold in aluminum cans account for more than a quarter of the total annual sales of these beverages. Their share has doubled in the last two years due to changing consumer preferences. However, local suppliers of beverage cans cannot keep up with the growing demand. At the same time, the ongoing war in the Middle East has disrupted expansion plans and increased uncertainty regarding global supplies. Brewers Association of India Director General Vinod Giri said that brewers had expected to be able to produce 600 million additional cans in the country, but they have been able to produce only half of that.

The extension of the deadline will give the industry more time to arrange packaging supplies before the summer season, as demand for beer and soft drinks increases significantly in summer. Giri said that because of the war there is a lot of uncertainty about the availability of empty cans around the world. He further said that even foreign manufacturers certified by ‘Bureau of Indian Standards’ (BIS) are not able to meet the rapidly growing demand in India.

Mandatory BIS certification

To improve product safety, freshness and reusability, aluminum cans were brought under mandatory BIS certification through the Quality Control Order in April last year. Under these regulations, domestic and foreign manufacturers have to meet certain technical standards. These include parameters such as material, size, sealing, pressure resistance, leakage and protective coating. The certification process can be very lengthy. In some cases, foreign manufacturing plants also have to be inspected, which makes new suppliers take longer to get approval.

There is a big relief

Giri said the timing is critical, as it will help beer companies plan and prepare inventory for the 2027 summer season. Beverage companies have started importing from the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and South-East Asia, where cans are available. But, imported cans are 25-30% more expensive than domestic cans. The shortage is exacerbated by the time it takes to ramp up the production line. Existing domestic capacity at key suppliers is fully utilized, and it may take up to a year for new production lines to become operational. As demand for cans continues to rise and domestic suppliers struggle to increase capacity, the industry is seeking regulatory relief.