GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1206
TO BE ANSWERED ON 9 TH FEBRUARY, 2024
ILLEGAL WATER BOTTLING PLANTS
†1206. SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that a number of units manufacturing bottled drinking water without following the standards prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards are growing unchecked and rapidly in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof including the number of such manufacturing units running particularly in Rajasthan;
(c) the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government against such units in the country; and
(d) the effective monitoring mechanism being developed by the Government to ensure availability of safe bottled drinking water in the country?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (d): Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has informed that information of the units manufacturing bottled drinking water without following the standards prescribed by BIS is not available with them. However, as on 2 nd February 2024, there are 6244 BIS Licensed manufacturers for Packaged Drinking Water and 32 BIS Licensed manufacturers for Packaged Natural Mineral Water in the country. Further, there are 162 BIS Licensed manufacturers for Packaged Drinking Water in Rajasthan as on 2 nd February 2024.

As per BIS Act 2016, sale of goods which are notified by central government under compulsory BIS Certification when sold without BIS Standard mark is treated as cognizable offence. (Section 16, 17 and 29 of BIS Act 2016). Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) established under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 functions as the regulatory authority for ensuring quality of food for human consumption, including Packaged Drinking Water. FSSAI through State/UTs and its regional offices conduct surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products to check compliance of the standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Rules and Regulations made thereunder. In cases where the food samples including Packaged Drinking Water are found to be non-conforming including sub-standard, penal action is initiated against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per provisions of FSS Act, Rules and Regulations made thereunder.