BIS has formulated the Indian Standard IS 14543 : 2016, Specification for Packaged Drinking Water (other than Packaged Natural Mineral Water) and IS 13428: 2005, Specification for Packaged Natural Mineral Water. As on date, BIS has granted over 6200 licences against IS 14543 and over 30 licences against IS 13428 to various manufacturing units (both domestic and foreign manufacturers) for the use of BIS Standard Mark or ISI Mark under its product certification scheme (Scheme I of Schedule II of BIS Conformity Assessment Regulations, 2018).
Packaged Drinking Water (other than Natural Mineral Water) as per IS 14543 : 2016 and Packaged Natural Mineral Water as per IS 13428 : 2005 are under compulsory certification of BIS as per Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulation, 2011. Accordingly, no person shall manufacture, sell or exhibit for sale Packaged Drinking Water and Natural Mineral Water except under the Bureau of Indian Standards Certification Mark.
BIS grants licence under Scheme-I only to the manufacturer for specific manufacturing premises. Foreign Manufacturers of Packaged Drinking Water (other than packaged natural mineral water) and Packaged Natural Mineral Water who seek to export their product to India can obtain BIS licence under BIS Foreign Manufacturers Certification Scheme (FMCS). Details of the FMCS Scheme are available on the BIS website www.bis.gov.in.
IS 14543 : 2016 specifies requirements for drinking water packaged in bottles, jars etc. Limits are specified in the standard for following major requirements to ensure that the drinking water is safe to consume:
• Physical parameters like TDS and Turbidity
• Microbiological parameters like E Coli and Yeast and Mould
• Chemical parameters like pH
• Pesticides and Radioactive Residues
As on September 2022, BIS has granted more than 6200 licences to the manufacturers of packaged drinking water for the use of the BIS Standard Mark (or ISI mark) on their product after making sure that their product met the requirements of IS 14543 : 2016. More than 30 licences to the manufacturers of packaged natural mineral water have been granted as well for the use of the BIS Standard Mark (or ISI mark) on their product after their product met the requirements of IS 13428 : 2005.