Bangalore: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), has revealed that a shocking 90% of the over 4,000 manufacturers of packaged drinking water in the State, do not meet the standards necessary for an ISI stamp. Only 445 do, and have the ISI stamp certifying that their product is fit for consumption.
This is significant, as most people prefer packaged drinking water to pipe water, believing it’s safe.
Packaged drinking water, whether in bottles, canisters or packets – has to meet 104 requirements before being certified by the BIS with an ‘ISI’ stamp. Samples have to clear tests for several types of pesticides, microbiological contamination, heavy metals and other chemicals. BIS, in 1987, took over the functions of Indian Standards Institution (ISI) in implementing national standards for various consumer goods. The ‘certification mark’, however, remains ‘ISI’.
Most manufacturers have not applied for a license. monitoring these manufacturers has become “the main focus” of the national standards body, Mr. Bhatnagar head of BIS, Bangalore branch said at a press conference on Friday. The other products that require mandatory BIS certification include baby food, electrical home appliances, automobile parts, medical appliances and gas cylinders, none of which can be stored or sold without a BIS license. He said, consumer awareness is important in these circumstances, and more so as the BIS cannot enforce the law, but refer the same to regulatory body, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India Water manufacturing companies have also been booked for using the ISI stamp without a license, he said.
Indeed it is illegal to sell packaged drinking water without the ISI mark. In 2001, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare enforced quality control for packaged drinking water and natural mineral water, bringing them under Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, and under the Compulsory Certification Scheme.
