RAJYA SABHA
Two Indian Standards,
one for Natural Mineral Water and another for Packaged Drinking
Water, were formulated in 1998. These standards cover microbiological,
physical and chemical safety of water. These standards were
based on international standards prevailing at that time. In
March 2001, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare enforced a
gazette notification under the Prevention of Food Adulteration
Rules 1955 as per which Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral
Water cannot be manufactured, sold or exhibited for sale without
BIS Standard Mark thereby making BIS Certification Mark mandatory.
Ministry of Health is the enforcement authority and BIS is the
certifying agency. BIS has so far granted more than 700 licences
for packaged drinking water (including 1 in Nepal) and 6 licences
for packaged natural water (including one in France) to different
manufacturers. The water manufactured in adherence to these
standards is entirely fit for human consumption. According to
the existing BIS Standard pesticide residues should be below
detectable limits when tested by the relevant method specified
in the Indian Standards. This is in accordance with the Prevention
of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955. A seminar was convened by
BIS on February 13, 2003 to determine whether the existing product
was fit for human consumption. The seminar was attended by eminent
Scientists representing Government bodies, representative of
World Health Organisation, Consumers, representatives of Industry
and other stakeholders. The seminar affirmed that the Packaged
Drinking Water now being produced according to the BIS Standards
is fit for human consumption.
This information
was given in Rajya Sabha today by Shri V. Sreenivasa Prasad,
Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution
in written reply.
