TL;DR
- A packaged drinking water label in India carries the Regulation 5 declarations of the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020, with net quantity and MRP under Legal Metrology.
- One-time-use plastic bottles must say 'CRUSH THE BOTTLE AFTER USE' or 'DISPOSE THE BOTTLE RESPONSIBLY', and health claims are barred.
- FSSAI dropped the mandatory BIS mark on 17 October 2024, and a testing scheme applies from 1 January 2026.
Quick Answer: A packaged drinking water label must carry the Regulation 5 declarations of the FSS (Labelling and Display) Regulations, 2020. One-time-use plastic bottles must say "CRUSH THE BOTTLE AFTER USE" or "DISPOSE THE BOTTLE RESPONSIBLY", and health claims are barred. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) dropped the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) mark requirement on 17 October 2024.
Packaged drinking water label requirements in India follow the same labelling law as other pre-packaged food, with a short list of water-specific rules on top. Two changes since 2024 alter the compliance picture. FSSAI removed the mandatory BIS certification mark and replaced it with inspection and audit, and it now also enforces a fixed testing scheme.
Packaged drinking water labelling at a glance
| Rule | Where it sits | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Product standard | FSS (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, 2.10.8 | Packaged drinking water other than mineral water |
| General label declarations | Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020, Regulation 5 | Name, FSSAI logo and licence, lot, dates, address |
| Net quantity, maximum retail price (MRP), consumer care | Regulation 5(8), Legal Metrology law | Volume, MRP inclusive of all taxes, contact details |
| Bottle disposal statement | Schedule II, para 1(6) | Crush or dispose statement on one-time-use plastic bottles |
| Claims | Schedule II, para 2.4 | No medicinal or health claims |
| Veg or non-veg symbol | Regulation 5(4) | Not required |
| Nutrition information | Regulation 5(3)(c)(iii) | Not required, unless a claim is made |
| BIS certification mark | Prohibition Regulations 2.3.14(17), omitted | No longer required by FSSAI since 17 October 2024 |
Which Declarations Must a Packaged Drinking Water Label Carry?
It must carry the general declarations of Regulation 5 of the Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020. Water has no separate declaration list; Schedule II adds one water-specific statement, covered below.
| Declaration | Sub-regulation | Note for water |
|---|---|---|
| Name of food | 5(1) | True nature, such as packaged drinking water or natural mineral water |
| Name and complete address | 5(6) | Brand owner, preceded by "Marketed by" or "Manufactured by" |
| FSSAI logo and licence number | 5(7) | Brand owner's, plus the manufacturer's licence number if different |
| Net quantity, MRP, consumer care | 5(8) | Under the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011 |
| Lot or batch number | 5(9) | Code, lot or batch |
| Date marking | 5(10) | Date of manufacture or packing, and expiry or use by |
| Country of origin | 5(12) | For imported water |
The general date formats, letter heights and panel rules apply as they do to any food, and are set out in the guide to FSSAI labelling requirements. Imported mineral water also needs the importer's Indian name, address and licence in India.
Which Product Name Should the Label Use?
The name must match the standard the product meets. Sub-regulation 2.10.8 covers packaged drinking water other than mineral water, and 2.10.7 covers mineral water, including natural spring water. Plain carbonated water falls under 2.10.6(1).
Which Legal Metrology Declarations Go on a Water Bottle?
Regulation 5(8) hands net quantity, MRP and consumer care to the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011. For food, Rule 6(1) governs these items, while the FSS rules govern the address and dates.
| Declaration | Rule | Example for water |
|---|---|---|
| Net quantity | Rule 6(1)(c) | 500 ml, 1 litre, 20 litres |
| Maximum retail price | Rule 6(1)(e) | MRP inclusive of all taxes, in Indian currency |
| Consumer care details | Rule 6(2) | Name, address, telephone number and email |
| Unit sale price | Rule 6(11) | Price per litre, alongside the MRP |
A packer of water also registers under Rule 27. Since 29 May 2026 that registration remains valid until cancelled, with an annual online update of particulars.
Is BIS Certification Mandatory for Packaged Drinking Water?
No, not under FSSAI law. The FSS (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) First Amendment Regulations, 2024 omitted clauses 2.3.14(17) and (18). Those clauses had barred the sale of packaged drinking water and mineral water without the BIS certification mark.
FSSAI notified the amendment on 17 October 2024, and it took effect on publication. The same amendment also dropped the BIS mark requirement for infant milk food and several milk products.
What Replaced the BIS Requirement?
Inspection and audit replaced it. An FSSAI order of 29 November 2024 placed packaged drinking water and mineral water in its high-risk food categories.
| Requirement | What the 29 November 2024 order says |
|---|---|
| Before licence or registration | Inspection of the manufacturing unit is mandatory |
| Routine inspection | Once a year |
| Third-party audit | Every year, by an FSSAI-recognised auditing agency, for Central licensees |
What Happened to the IS 14543 Marking Items?
They are no longer FSSAI law. Items such as the product name in capitals and a "keep away from direct sunlight" line came from the BIS standard IS 14543. They bound producers through the mandatory BIS licence, which ended on 17 October 2024. Treat them as standard practice, not as FSSAI declarations.
Which Statements Are Specific to Water Labels?
Two Schedule II rules apply only to drinking water. Both cover packaged drinking water and mineral water.
Why Must a Water Bottle Say "Crush the Bottle After Use"?
Schedule II, paragraph 1(6) applies to one-time-use plastic bottles of packaged drinking water and mineral water. The label must carry "CRUSH THE BOTTLE AFTER USE" or "DISPOSE THE BOTTLE RESPONSIBLY". Either statement satisfies the rule, and it does not apply to returnable jars.
Which Claims Are Prohibited on Water Labels?
Schedule II, paragraph 2.4 sets three prohibitions for drinking water.
- No medicinal claims. No preventive, alleviative or curative effect may be claimed, and no other health benefit.
- No borrowed place names. A place name may form part of the trade name only if the water is collected at that place.
- No misleading statements or pictures about the nature, origin, composition or properties of the water.
How claims on other foods are tested is set out in the guide to FSSAI label claims rules.
What Can a Water Label Leave Out?
It can leave out the veg or non-veg symbol and, in most cases, the nutrition panel.
- Veg or non-veg symbol. Regulation 5(4) exempts mineral water, packaged drinking water and carbonated water. The veg symbol rules apply to most other foods.
- Nutrition information. Regulation 5(3)(c)(iii) exempts waters for human consumption, including those where carbon dioxide is the only added ingredient.
- Ingredient list. Regulation 5(2) does not require one for single-ingredient foods, such as plain packaged drinking water.
The nutrition exemption ends when the label makes a nutrition or health claim. Flavoured or sweetened water is not covered by the water exemption; it follows the label rules for other non-alcoholic beverages.
Which Testing Applies From 1 January 2026?
An FSSAI order of 17 December 2025 sets a scheme of testing for packaged drinking water and mineral water. It took effect on 1 January 2026. It is an order, not a regulation, and it does not change the label.
| Test | Frequency for packaged drinking water |
|---|---|
| Microbiological parameters | One sample every month |
| Listed general and chemical parameters | Once every three months |
| Pesticide residues | Once every six months |
| All 2.10.8 parameters | Once every six months |
| Plastic jars, bottles and caps | Migration and colour, once every six months |
Testing must be done at an FSSAI-notified laboratory accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Failures in consecutive six-monthly reports lead to a risk-based FSSAI inspection.
Where Does a Label Check Fit for Water Brands?
It fits before every print run and every new bottle size. A new size changes the net quantity, MRP and, often, the panel area that sets letter heights.
LexComply's AI Label Compliance Checker has a product category for packaged drinking water and beverages. Upload the artwork for each bottle or jar size and answer its questions on the product, packaging and claims; each requirement comes back with a status and the gaps to fix. One free assessment is available per account, and LexComply's advisory services take cases that need professional review. The result is not a statutory approval.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Printing the BIS licence as an FSSAI requirement. Clauses 2.3.14(17) and (18) were omitted on 17 October 2024; FSSAI no longer requires the mark.
- Treating the crush statement as the only wording. Schedule II, paragraph 1(6) accepts "CRUSH THE BOTTLE AFTER USE" or "DISPOSE THE BOTTLE RESPONSIBLY".
- Adding a veg symbol to the bottle. Regulation 5(4) exempts packaged drinking water, mineral water and carbonated water.
- Making a health claim and keeping the nutrition exemption. Any nutrition or health claim switches Regulation 5(3) back on, and Schedule II, paragraph 2.4 bars health claims on water anyway.
- Describing the testing scheme as a regulation. It is an FSSAI order of 17 December 2025, effective 1 January 2026.
- Using a place name the water does not come from. Schedule II, paragraph 2.4(2) allows it only where the water is collected there.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is general information on FSSAI labelling rules for packaged drinking water, current as at the date shown above. It is not legal advice, and each label should be checked against the regulations and orders in force on the date of printing.