ALLEGED INADEQUACIES IN PACKAGED DRINKING WATER
SHRI YADAV CONSTITUTES ENQUIRY
COMMITTEE
Shri Sharad Yadav,
Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has
ordered an enquiry into the alleged inadequacies in packaged drinking
water/natural mineral water which is sold after BIS (Bureau of
Indian Standards) certification, as reported in a section of the
press. An Enquiry Committee has been constituted with the Additional
Secretary, Consumer Affairs as chairperson and Director (BIS),
Department of Consumer Affairs as Member Secretary. The other
Members of the Committee include a Joint Secretary level officer
from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and one technical
officer from BIS.
The Committee
will look into adequacy of standards for packaged drinking water
and natural mineral water and will probe whether the standards
are being properly enforced by BIS in case the standards are adequate.
The Committee will further look into the testing facilities available
with BIS besides examining the status of alignment of standards
for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water with current
international standards. Yet another term of reference of the
Committee is linkage of BIS standards with Prevention of Food
Adulteration (PFA) Act under which packaged drinking water and
natural mineral water have been made mandatory and suggest remedial
measures in case of inadequacies. The Committee will have to submit
its report within three weeks.
