BOTTLED DRINKING WATER:
PFA AMENDMENT SOUGHT
Shri Sharad Yadav,
Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has
sought the help of Health Ministry for amending the Prevention
of Food Adulteration Rules (PFA Rules) for the speedy implementation
of the amended standards for packaged drinking water and natural
mineral water. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Health
and Family Welfare Shri Yadav requested that necessary amendments
in PFA Rules may be made on a priority basis in order to enable
the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to implement the new norms
for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water.
The technical committee
of BIS reviewed the existing Indian standards for packaged drinking
water (IS 14543:1998 ) and Natural Mineral Water (IS 13428:1998)
at its meeting on the 7th and 8th February
2003 and had issued amendments in order to align the Indian standards
with EU norms. The committee has listed 13 items of pesticides
for testing and the analysis for the same should be conducted
by an accredited laboratory using internationally established
test methods meeting the prescribed levels of residue limit. The
manufacturers are to produce to BIS a " No Objection Certificate"
from the central government/state government ground water authority
for obtaining BIS certification.
