The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has classified packaged drinking water and mineral water under the 'High-Risk Food Categories' according to an order dated Nov. 29.
"It is reiterated that all centrally licenced manufacturers under the High-Risk Food Categories shall get its business audited by FSSAI recognised third party food safety auditing agency every year," the order said. "The list of High-Risk Food Categories now also includes Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water."
Food business operators dealing in non-alcoholic soft beverages, packaged drinking water and mineral water will now be subject to a mandatory inspection once a year.
The food regulation authority introduced these measures to take the place of the various regulatory norms the Union government had done away with in the FSSAI's 43rd meeting in February where several amendments to food safety and standards regulations were approved, removing the requirement for Bureau of Indian Standards and Agriculture Mark certification for food products.
Food item processors exempt from BIS certification would still be required to undergo inspections before obtaining a licence or registration.
The food safety body had also declassified dairy-based beverage mixes, cereal-based beverage mixes, and malt-based beverages from being categorised as health drinks.
"Energy Drinks – is permitted to be used only on the products licenced under Food Category System (FCS) 14.1.4.1 and 14.1.4.2 (Carbonated and Non-carbonated water-based flavoured drinks), standardized under sub-regulation 2.10.6 (2) of Food Product Standards and Food Additives Regulations 2011 (Caffeinated Beverage)," the FSSAI had said in a press release in April.
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