As per the order E-File No. RCD-02001-9-2021-Regulatory-FSSAI (E-2960) dated 29th November, 2024 issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), it has been decided that ‘’Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water’’ (for which Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification was mandatory prior to first Amendment Regulations, 2024 dated 17th October 2024 will be treated under ‘High Risk Food Categories’.

 Understanding High-Risk Food Categories

High-risk foods are those which have a higher potential to cause foodborne illnesses due to their nature, composition, or handling practices. These products are particularly vulnerable to contamination during production, transportation, or storage. Typically, high-risk foods include:

• Meat and Poultry Products
• Dairy Products (especially raw milk and its derivatives)
• Seafood
• Ready-to-eat foods such as salads or sandwiches
• Infant Foods

These foods often require strict regulatory oversight, including certification, hygiene standards, traceability, and product testing, to ensure public health safety.

Packaged drinking water is often considered to be the safest option to beat the thirst in case of unavailability of safe drinking water. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has recently decided to treat the packaged drinking and mineral water segment as a “High Risk Food Category” and subject it to mandatory inspection and third-party audit norms.

As per latest reports, FSSAI has said, “As a consequence of the omission of the mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for certain products, it has been decided that ‘Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water’ will be treated under ‘High Risk Food Categories.’

In its order, the regulator noted that it has made amendments in its Risk-Based Inspection Policy to include the packaged drinking water and mineral water categories. With this, manufacturers of packaged drinking water and mineral water will undergo risk-based inspection once every year. They will also undergo inspection before the grant of a license or registration.

In its order dated November 29, the regulator noted that the inspection of manufacturers or processors of food categories, for which the mandatory BIS certification requirement has been removed, will now be required before the grant of a license or registration.

It is reiterated that all centrally licensed manufacturers under high-risk food categories shall get their businesses audited annually by an FSSAI-recognised third-party food safety auditing agency. The list of high-risk food categories now also includes packaged drinking water and mineral water, the food safety authority’s order added.

Conclusion:

The omission of mandatory BIS certification from high-risk food categories brings with it both challenges and opportunities. While food safety cannot be compromised, there is room for rethinking how products are certified, monitored, and regulated. With appropriate oversight, collaboration, and innovation, India can continue to ensure the safety of its food products while adapting to the changing regulatory landscape.

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Aayushi Goel