Introduction: FSSAI  For Packaged Drinking Water

Water is an essential component of our body. A normal human being requires at least 4 liters of water every day, but with the raise in water pollution, now a day it’s difficult to trust the purity of water. FSSAI (Food safety standards authority of India) has recently issued new guidelines for packaged drinking water companies to ensure that the packaged drinking water available in the market is safe to consume.

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As per the new guidelines, companies should write “Packaged drinking water” rather than “Packaged Natural drinking water”. According to the authorities, natural mineral water is unlikely to be consumed by humans. The water should be sold in packaged form by whatever names the company wants to sell for.

Also, as per the new modifications by FSSAI, the drinking water can be derived from various sources like local water supply, surface water, underground water, sea or any other reliable source of water. However, drinking water manufacturers companies need to execute the below procedures before selling it to the market. These guidelines would ensure that the water manufactured is absolutely safe for drinking and cannot cause any harm.

Below Are The New Guidelines Set by FSSAI For Packaged Drinking Water

Water collected from any kind of source must go through a standard treatment process that includes

• Decantation (Process to remove undesired liquid from the precipitate)
• Filtration (Process that separate solids from fluids (liquids or gases) by adding a medium through which only the fluid can pass)
• Combination filtration system,
• Cartridge filter (are effective ways of removing sediment and physical contaminants from water)
• Activated carbon filtration (a process to remove organic constituents and residual disinfectants from water),
• Aerification (the process of mixing air with liquid),
• Filtration with a membrane filter,
• Cartridge filter (are effective ways of removing sediment and physical contaminants from water)
• Activated carbon filtration (a process to remove organic constituents and residual disinfectants from water),

Packaged water must be totally harmless by ensuring that the water is fully disinfected by the means of physical methods and chemical agents. This would confirm that the level of microorganisms present in water is at the accepted level for consumption.

Water collected from the sea should go through a desalinization process in which the salt ions present in the water can be removed.

Post-treatment, the water should be filled and sealed in bottles for consumption. Also, it should not go any further treatment process.

If the water treatment procedure involves remineralization, only approved minerals must be used in water that is of grade/pharma with high quality.

The new guidelines also stipulate the limits of microorganisms present in water and also define the guideline about microorganisms which are harmful for human consumption. All these microorganisms are Escherichia coli (or the RMO tolerant bacteria), yeast and mold, Faecal Streptococci, and Staphylococcus aureus, Coliform bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosin, Vibrio cholera, and V. para hemolytic us, Salmonella Typhi, Sulphate Reducing Anaerobes, Salmonella and Shigella

A number of microbiological contents that exist in water should be according to the approved standards of FSSAI so that the water processed must complete all health requirements. As per new regulations, all the companies involved in the manufacturing and packaging of water are required to complete and submit all the details of their water processing unit so that both FSSAI and BIS can begin the approval process. Any violation of the safety standards would lead to legal actions against the company. All the packaged drinking water companies are required to obtain two different licenses to operate. One license was issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the other one by FSSAI itself. Companies operating with both licenses are only authorized to sell packaged drinking water in the market.

There might be surprise audits conducted by the authorities to make sure the companies are operating as per defined rules and standards. It is only after the testing, quality check, and verification process of every ingredient in the packaged drinking water, FSSAI would issue a valid license. This would provide assurance to consumers that the water can be drunk without any doubts and confusion.

FSSAI Guidelines for Packaging and Labeling

• Only clean, colourless, hygienic, transparent, and tamper-proof bottles shall be used to pack the water.
• Packaging bottles should be used as per the food-grade plastic bottles guidelines.
• Packaging bottles must pass through the color migration limits test.
• In the case of normal drinking water, the label should read “2.3.3 of FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011: “PACKAGED DRINKING WATER”.
• In the case of mineral water, the label should read “2.3.3 of FSS (Packaging & Labelling) Regulations, 2011: “NATURAL MINERAL WATER”
• Every packaged bottle should have the following mandatory declaration “Crush bottles after use”.

Steps to get FSSAI State License & FSSAI Central to license For Packaged Drinking Water

• Login to the FSSAI website and fill out an application form A
• Make a payment for FSSAI application at the food business operating office in your locality
• After payment is received and uploaded on the FSSAI website, the FBO needs to fill Form B. While filling the form, it will be required to provide multiple declarations and resolutions
• Submit your application and follow up with the authorities for the status of the application
• In case the application is received back for make any change in forms, ensure you respond within 15 days, else the application would be rejected
• The registration process takes 40 – 60 working days. During this process, the authorities will review your application and approve it.

Click on the link below to know about how to get a new license or renew existing or edit, also get free consulting from our expert CS/CA’s.

Know more about: Register for FSSAI License or get free consulting on FSSAI License