Onjus sale was banned by the Bhutan ministry of trade and industry from October 28, Bhutanese national newspaper Kuensel reported.

The ban follows a case filed by the Indian Department for Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) here last month. The trade ministry, while banning Onjus sale, has asked retailers to withhold sale of stocks with them until further notice.

There was only a single trader in Bhutan based in Thimpu and the dealer reported a stock of 111 small crates and 73 large crates of the orange drink in Thimpur. It also held about 150 small crates and 13 large crates of the brand as stock in another town Phuentsholing.

A Bhutanese trade ministry spokesman said artificial colours used in the drink were not permitted under India PFA Act, 1955.

Meanwhile, Bhutanese agro-industry has termed theuse of artificial colours in the orange drink as `fraud'. Onjus' label claimed that it was a natural drink but adding artificial colours was unjust, they said. Though the agro-industry in Thimpu uses chemical additives to increase processed food and natural drink shelf life, it was within permissible levels. The brand drink would be tested at a public health laboratory by the trade ministry as a precautionary measure before its sale was allowed, the journal said.