Compliance of Scheme of Testing for Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water

File No.: RCD-15001/19/2025-Regulatory-FSSAI
भारतीय खाद्य सुरक्षा एवं मानक प्राधिकरण
(स्वास्थ्य एवं परिवार कल्याण मंत्रालय)
(विज्ञान एवं मानक विभाग)
एफडीए भवन, कोटला रोड, नई दिल्ली 110002

Dated, 17 December, 2025

विषय: पैकेटबंद पेयजल और मिनरल वाटर के परीक्षण की योजना का अनुपालन ।

Subject: Compliance of Scheme of Testing for Packaged Drinking Water & Mineral Water -reg.

FSSAI has gazette notified omission of the provision for mandatory BIS certification under Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction of Sales) Regulation, 2011 vide dated 17^th October, 2024. The mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards Certification Mark is no longer required for Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) & Mineral Water (MW).

2. In continuation of the above omission of mandatory BIS certification, the scheme of testing of “Packaged Drinking Water” & “Mineral Water” is made in order to ensure safety & compliance of Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) & Mineral Water (MW) in the Indian market. Therefore, all FBOs are directed to strictly comply with the same with effective from 01.01.2026.

3. यह मामला सक्षम प्राधिकारी की स्वीकृति से संबंधित है।

Annex: Scheme of testing

Digitally signed by
Dr. SATYEN KUMAR PANDA
Date: 17-12-2025
19:32:34

(Dr. Satyen Kumar Panda)
Executive Director (Compliance Strategy)

To

1. All concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs)
2. Commissioners of Food Safety of all States/UTs
3. Director (Quality Assurance Division), FSSAI- to inform all FSSAI Notified Laboratories
4. Director (Trade and International Cooperation), FSSAI
5. Central Licensing Authorities, FSSAI

Copy to

1. Advisor (Science and Standards Division), FSSAI
2. Advisor (Quality Assurance Division), FSSAI
3. CITO- for uploading on Website.
4. All Regional Directors, FSSAI

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SCHEME OF TESTING FOR PACKAGED DRINKING WATER (OTHER THAN PACKAGED NATURAL MINERAL WATER) IN ACCORDANCE WITH FSSR 2.10.8.

1. Test Records –The manufacturer shall maintain test records for the tests carried out to establish conformity.

2.0 Packing – The Packaged Drinking Water shall be packed as per provisions given in Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulation, 2018.

3.0 Levels of Control -The tests as indicated in Table 1 and at the levels of control specified therein, shall be carried out on the whole production of the factory covered by this Scheme and appropriate records maintained in accordance with clause 2 of this Scheme. Entire production shall conform to the schedule IV of Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulation, 2011.

4.0 In respect of all other clauses of the FSS Standard (other than those mentioned under Levels of Control– Table 1 of this Scheme) the factory shall maintain appropriate controls and checks to ensure that their product conforms to the requirements of the standard.

4.1 Records of the batch wise consumption of the added minerals, if applicable, are to be maintained along with the invoices and test certificates for the same.

5.0 Microbiological Requirements - If any non-compliance is noticed in any of the microbiological requirements, sample available in the stock shall be rechecked and released into the market only after conformity is ensured.

5.1 The licensee shall take immediate corrective actions, which would involve complete investigation of the reasons for contamination and non-conformity. The manufacturer should re-start production and dispatch only after the completion of satisfactory corrective actions and availability of satisfactory results of all microbiological tests as applicable for 5 consecutive batches. The manufacturer shall keep complete records of such instances for review by FSSAI for minimum period of 5 years.

6.0 Source Water – Before use, the source water used in production of Packaged Drinking Water shall be tested for all the parameters in accordance with regulation 2.10.8 of FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 from FSSAI notified NABL accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025 certified). In addition, any other requirements as considered necessary for process control, are to be tested where the incidence of their presence in higher levels has been detected during the previous tests.

6.1 Whenever, the quality of processed water is found to be non-compliant as per FSS provisions 2.10.8 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 for the tested parameters, the source water shall be checked again for such parameters in which non-compliant is observed for deciding upon the necessary controls to be exercised for conformance of quality of processed water to FSSR 2.10.8.

6.2 In case non-conformity is observed for radioactive residues, the source of raw water shall be abandoned and water shall be recalled immediately. The Food Authority is to be informed immediately.

6.3 As and when there is change in source water or addition of new source of raw water, the same shall be tested for all the parameters in accordance with regulation 2.10.8 of FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011 from FSSAI notified NABL accredited laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025 certified). Once all the samples are compliant then only the new source water to be used for regular production.

6.4 The source water shall be treated as per the FSS provisions 2.10.8 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011. In case remineralization is a part of the treatment process, the ingredients used shall conform to food grade/ pharma grade quality. The test certificate of these ingredients shall be submitted to FSSAI.

6.5 The means adopted for disinfection of the product water shall be declared and shall be done in accordance with the FSS provisions 2.10.8 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011.

7.0 Plastic Jars/Bottles/Containers - The plastic containers used for packing the material shall conform to Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulation, 2018.

7.1 Pouches–The polyethylene film and pouches shall conform to Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulation, 2018. The conformity assessment shall be carried in accordance with the levels of controls as given under Table 3.

7.2 Glass Bottles - Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulation, 2018 has been specified as a Standard for glass bottles. The separate processing line for filling the glass bottles may be verified by FSSAI during the next inspection and necessary steps in the process for ensuring sterility of bottles may be adopted like steam sterilizing, hot water rinsing, UV sterilization or combination thereof.

7.3 Paper based multilayer laminated/extruded composite cartons and aluminium cans - Paper based multilayer laminated/extruded composite cartons shall conform to Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulation, 2018. The conformity assessment shall be carried in accordance with the levels of controls as given under Table 4. Aluminium cans shall conform to Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulation, 2018 and packaged drinking water as per FSS provisions 2.10.8 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulation, 2011

8.0 Reused Containers – Licensee shall ensure use of plastic containers of capacity 5 litre and above & glass bottles only which are suitably durable, easy to clean or disinfect for packing the product water. Containers which get soiled, de-shaped and/or mutilated during the course of use and refilling shall not be used.