With the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) proposing to remove the requirement for mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for packaged drinking water from January 1, manufacturing units in Tamil Nadu may be spared of dual approvals, but will face a stricter testing framework and compliance regime.
Meanwhile, consumer groups have sought a wider network of accredited testing laboratories to ensure effective monitoring and consistent quality.
In a recent directive, the FSSAI has detailed a scheme for testing packaged drinking water and mineral water, and directed manufacturers to comply with the testing mechanism from January 1.
1,600 units
There are nearly 1,600 packaged drinking water manufacturing units across the State. With the FSSAI replacing the mandatory BIS Mark, nearly 40% of them have refrained from renewing their BIS certification.
