FSSAI puts packaged drinking water under ‘High Risk’ category; what you need to know

New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) placed packaged drinking and mineral water under the ‘High Risk Food Category’. It also subjected the same to third-party audit norms and mandated inspection as well. This comes after the government’s directive in October that made it mandatory to obtain certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards for the mineral and packaged drinking water industry.

“As a consequence of the omission of the mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for certain products, it has been decided that ‘Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water’ will be treated under ‘High Risk Food Categories,” the FSSAI said in its order. It also noted that there are some amendments in the policy to include mineral water in the same category. And with this, packaged water manufacturers are to undergo inspection before being granted a license.

Food items that are listed under the ‘High Risk’ group undergo risk inspections that are mandatory. Dated November 29, the order also noted that an insection for processors and manufacturers is a must and for this, a BIS certification has been removed which was previously mandatory. This will now be required before a license or registration is granted going forward.

“It is reiterated that all centrally licensed manufacturers under high-risk food categories shall get their businesses audited annually by an FSSAI-recognised third-party food safety auditing agency. The list of high-risk food categories now also includes packaged drinking water and mineral water,” the FSSAI order added.

Earlier, the packaged drinking water industry urged the government to simplify compliance norms and remove the mandatory obtaining of certification from FSSAI and the Bureau of Indian Standards. The latest norms, however, can streamline the compliance burden in the industry.