Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: After a five-month delay following objections from industry stakeholders, retailers and political parties, the Goa government has notified the implementation of the Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS) from September 1, with liquor and liquor-related products forming the first phase of the initiative.
The scheme, originally slated for launch on April 1, was deferred after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced in the Goa Legislative Assembly in March that the government would postpone its implementation to allow time for stakeholder consultations and public awareness.
According to a notification issued by Member Convenor Sachin Desai, the DRS will now come into force across the State from September 1. In the first phase, it will cover liquor and liquor-based products packaged in glass, plastic, metal and other notified packaging materials, including multi-layered packaging and liquid packaging boards.
The notification mandates that all Producers, Importers and Brand Owners (PIBOs) dealing in liquor products must register under the DRS on or before July 31, 2026. Failure to do so will bar them from placing their products in the Goa market once the scheme comes into effect.
Under the DRS, consumers purchasing notified products will pay a refundable deposit ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 10 in addition to the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The deposit will be refunded when empty bottles or containers are returned at designated collection centres.
The liquor industry had earlier sought a further deferment of the scheme, citing concerns over supply chain preparedness, operational challenges and possible revenue losses. Retailers and several village panchayats had also expressed reservations over the collection, transportation and storage of returned bottles.
To facilitate the rollout, the Excise Department has already made it mandatory for all liquor bottles sold in Goa to carry high-security, tamper-resistant QR code stickers. The digital track-and-trace system is expected to enable seamless refund processing while ensuring every bottle can be traced to its point of sale.
Under the new framework, no liquor bottle will be allowed to leave a manufacturing unit, bottling plant, warehouse or licensed premises without the prescribed security label, making the QR-based tracking system a key component of the Deposit Refund Scheme.
