The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has reclassified packaged drinking/mineral water under the ‘high-risk’ food category.
The move is effective immediately following an order dated November 29, 2024.
Key points
- Food business operators dealing in non-alcoholic soft beverages, packaged drinking water and mineral water will now be subject to a mandatory inspection.
- The reclassification mandates annual third-party food safety audits.
- The central licence holders in this category must now submit to annual inspections aimed at mitigating potential health risks associated with packaged water production.
- All centrally licensed manufacturers under the High-Risk Food Categories have to get its business audited by FSSAI recognised third party food safety auditing agency every year.
- Labeling packaged water as “high-risk food” does not imply these products are unsafe.
- Rather, it reinforces the government’s commitment to ensuring consumer safety by enforcing stricter safety checks.
