The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has officially classified packaged drinking water and mineral water as a ‘High-Risk Food Category.’ The move aims to enhance the safety standards of these widely consumed products by subjecting them to mandatory inspections and audits.
Mandatory Inspections and Third-Party Audits
According to a notification issued on November 29, 2024, manufacturers and processors of packaged drinking water will now require mandatory inspections before obtaining a license or registration. Additionally, businesses under this category must undergo annual audits by third-party food safety agencies recognized by the FSSAI.
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“It is reiterated that all Centrally Licensed Manufacturers under High Risk Food Categories shall get its business audited by FSSAI recognised third party food safety auditing agency every year. The list of High Risk Food Categories now also includes Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water,” the FSSAI stated.
What does this mean?
There’s no reason to be concerned about the FSSAI’s decision to term mineral and bottled drinking water as “high-risk food”. It doesn’t mean that these products are dangerous. It instead guarantees more stringent safety inspections.
This decision comes in the wake of the government’s October 2024 amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011. The amendment removed the requirement for mandatory certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for packaged drinking water and mineral water.
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The FSSAI clarified in its notification stating, “Consequent to the omission of sub-regulation 2.3.14 (4), (5), (17) and (18) of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibitions and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 (copy of notification is attached), which pertain to mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for certain food products, it has been decided that ‘Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water’ (for which BIS certification was mandatory prior to Gazette notification of Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) first Amendment Regulations, 2024 dated 17th October 2024) will be treated under ‘High Risk Food Categories’.”
Industry Push for Simplified Regulations
The packaged drinking water industry had earlier advocated for a streamlined regulatory process, including removing dual certification requirements from both the BIS and FSSAI. This reclassification aims to strike a balance between reducing regulatory overlaps and ensuring consumer safety.
Stricter Safety Measures
The classification of packaged drinking water and mineral water as a high-risk category underscores FSSAI’s commitment to stricter safety measures. The regulatory body aims to ensure that products meeting high consumer demand adhere to rigorous safety and quality standards.
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This change is expected to improve the accountability of businesses and strengthen trust in packaged drinking water and mineral water among consumers.
What are high-risk foods for FSSAI?
The FSSAI defines high-risk food categories as products that require regular inspections and yearly audits by food safety auditing agencies recognized by the FSSAI.
These categories include a variety of food items such as dairy products and their substitutes, meat and meat products including poultry, as well as fish, molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. Eggs and egg-based products also fall under this category, along with Indian sweets, prepared foods, and food products designed for specific nutritional needs. Additionally, fortified rice kernels and other nutrient preparations are classified as high-risk foods due to their need for strict safety measures.
