DIMAPUR, JULY 4 (MExN): The Commissioner of Food Safety has raised concerns about several manufacturers of packaged drinking water and mineral water operating without the mandatory BIS Certification Mark.
This non-compliance breaches Regulation 2.3.14 (17) and (18) of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011, which states, “No person shall manufacture, sell or exhibit for sale, Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) and Mineral Water (MW) except under the Bureau of Indian Standards Certification Mark (BIS).”
Additionally, under Section 31 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, all food business operators must obtain a license or registration before commencing any food business. The department emphasized that both MSME and large-scale manufacturers of packaged drinking water must secure a BIS license, a prerequisite for applying for an FSSAI license or registration.
The FSSAI has laid down a specific procedure for manufacturers of PDW and MW. Firstly, food business operators (FBOs) must upload a copy of the BIS license or a letter indicating their application for a BIS license when applying for a new license on the FoSCoS online system. Once they obtain the BIS license, they must submit its details in the online annual return available in FoSCoS. Furthermore, the BIS license is a mandatory document for license renewal. In the event of the rejection or closure of the BIS license application, FBOs must inform the concerned licensing authority, which could lead to the rejection, suspension, or cancellation of the FSSAI application or license.
Failure to comply with these regulations will result in penalties under sections 58 and 63 of the FSS Act, 2006, the department cautioned.
