Packaged water cos must submit to closer checks

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is overhauling the way bottled water is regulated, directing states and union territories for the first time to conduct mandatory inspections of packaging facilities before granting new licences, according to two people familiar with the matter and documents reviewed by Mint.

- Priyanka Sharma

Companies already holding licences must now undergo annual audits and risk-based inspections to ensure continued compliance with stricter safety and quality standards, they said.

The shift follows FSSAI's decision to classify packaged drinking water as a "high-risk" food category. Under the regulator's revised Risk Based Inspection Scheme, companies must now meet hygiene and safety standards before securing a licence and will face more stringent oversight, including mandatory inspections and annual third-party audits.

High-risk food products include items with a high potential for contamination, such as milk, dairy products, meat, eggs, and certain ready-to-eat foods. Pre-licence inspections are standard practice for these categories, aligning bottled water with broader public health measures.

The move is significant because the government dropped the requirement for mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for packaged and mineral water in October 2024, simplifying compliance and consolidating regulatory authority under FSSAI.