Packaged Drinking and Mineral Water Now High-Risk Food Category: FSSAI Announces Stricter Controls

New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has reclassified packaged drinking water and mineral water as a high-risk food category, introducing stricter regulatory controls and quality assurance measures.

This decision, effective immediately as per an order dated November 29, 2024, follows the omission of sub-regulations 2.3.14 (4), (5), (17), and (18) of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibitions and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011.

These regulations previously required mandatory BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification for such products. The move aims to strengthen oversight and ensure consumer safety by addressing potential health risks associated with packaged water production and distribution.

Under the revised regulations, manufacturers and processors of packaged drinking water and mineral water must now undergo mandatory inspections before being granted licences or registrations. This ensures compliance with food safety standards from the outset. Additionally, central licence holders in this category will be subject to annual inspections to maintain ongoing compliance.

This provision has been formally added to the Risk-Based Inspection Scheduling (RBIS) policy under the category "Non-alcoholic ('soft') beverages – Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water only." Further, these businesses must also conduct third-party food safety audits through FSSAI-recognized agencies to align with the heightened safety protocols.

This reclassification aligns with recent amendments to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, particularly the First Amendment Regulations, 2024, notified on October 17, 2024. These changes reflect FSSAI's broader strategy to enhance oversight of high-risk food categories.

The stricter monitoring framework aims to address long-standing concerns about microbial contamination, chemical impurities, and other quality issues in packaged drinking water. Annual inspections will now focus on critical aspects of production, including water sourcing, filtration, bottling, and distribution, to reduce health hazards and ensure consumers receive safe and reliable products.

The reclassification is expected to improve the safety and quality of packaged water, which is a widely consumed product in India. By introducing stricter controls and accountability measures, FSSAI aims to mitigate risks and reinforce public confidence in the safety of bottled drinking water.