The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has classified packaged drinking and mineral water under the ‘High-Risk Food’ category, a move aimed at strengthening safety and quality standards for consumers.
This decision follows the government’s October announcement to remove the requirement for dual certification from both the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and FSSAI for these products. As part of the new measures, packaged water manufacturers will now be subjected to mandatory annual inspections and third-party audits by food safety agencies recognized by FSSAI.
To obtain or renew a license, manufacturers will need to undergo risk-based inspections annually. These steps are designed to address industry concerns over safety while streamlining compliance, as the packaged water industry had previously urged the removal of dual certification requirements.
FSSAI Tightens E-Commerce Norms
In a related development, FSSAI recently issued stricter guidelines for e-commerce food operators, emphasizing transparency and safety. Operators must ensure that food products have at least 30% or 45 days of shelf life remaining at the time of delivery. Additionally, any claims made about products must align with information on their labels and adhere to FSSAI regulations.
At a meeting held in November, FSSAI CEO G. Kamala Vardhana Rao stressed that no e-commerce operators could function without a valid FSSAI licence. He also highlighted the importance of separating the delivery of food and non-food items to prevent contamination.
These measures collectively reflect the regulator’s commitment to ensuring consumer safety and fostering greater accountability across the food industry.