Diet Coke, beer makers get 6-month breather as govt extends aluminium can certification deadline

Mumbai: The government has extended the deadline for mandatory quality certification of aluminium beverage cans by six months to April 2027, according to an industry executive, giving manufacturers more time to increase production amid supply constraints affecting brands such as Diet Coke and some beer labels. The deadline was October 31.

A leading can maker told ET that the revised deadlines for different categories of manufacturers were notified last week.

Also Read: Diet coke runs dry in Indian cities as Iran war triggers aluminium can shortage


Large enterprises must comply from April 1, 2027, small enterprises from July 1, and micro enterprises from October 1, 2027.

In India, beer and soft drinks sold in aluminium cans account for more than a quarter of annual sales of these beverages. Their share has doubled over the last two years with changing consumers preference. However, domestic suppliers of beverage cans have struggled to keep pace with the rising demand, while the war in the Middle East has disrupted expansion plans and heightened uncertainty over global supplies.

Manufacturers had expected to produce an additional 600 million cans domestically but achieved only half that number, said Vinod Giri, director general of the Brewers Association of India. The extension gives the industry more time to secure packaging supplies ahead of the summer season, when demand for beer and soft drinks typically rises.

"The war has also added a thick layer of uncertainty over empty can availability worldwide," Giri said, adding that overseas manufacturers certified by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) could not meet burgeoning demand in India.

Aluminium cans were brought under mandatory BIS certification through a quality control order in April last year to improve product safety, freshness and recyclability. The rules require domestic and overseas manufacturers to meet technical standards covering materials, dimensions, sealing, pressure resistance, leakage and protective coatings.

The certification process can be lengthy, with some applications requiring inspection of manufacturing plants overseas, adding to the time needed to approve new suppliers.

Also Read: Govt extends BIS certification deadline on aluminium cans; relief for beer, soft drinks

"The timing is important because this would help beer companies plan and build inventory for the summer season of 2027," said Giri.

Beverage makers have turned to imports from the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, where can supplies are available, but imported cans cost 25-30% more than domestic ones.

The shortage has been compounded by the time required to add production lines.

Major suppliers have exhausted existing domestic capacity, and new lines can take up to a year to become operational.

The industry has been seeking regulatory relief as demand for cans rises and domestic suppliers struggle to add capacity.