Question : CONTAMINATION IN PACKAGED WATER

(a) whether complaints/reports indicating sale of fake bottled water at crowded places like bus and railway stations and local tourist destinations have been received by the Government;

(b) if so, whether any surveillance programme has been launched to check this and if so, the detail s and the outcome thereof;

(c) whether traces of pesticides/ chemicals present in groundwater have been discovered in packaged water of licensed companies, if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken in this regard; and

(d) whether the Government has prepared any scheme for regular testing of bottled water at local level and laying down norms for the producers including branded companies and if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI RAM VILAS PASWAN)

(a)& (b) : No, Madam. No such specific complaint has been received.

(c) During the last three years and current year, a total of 20795 samples of packaged drinking water and packaged natural mineral water have been drawn for testing. Only in 3 cases, samples have been reported to be failing due to presence of chemicals/pesticides beyond the permissible limits. In these cases, warnings were issued to the manufacturers to, check the effectiveness of the quality control system in place in the factory and make improvements through corrective actions.

(d) Yes, Madam, the quality parameters of Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) and Packaged Natural Mineral Water (PNMW) have been stipulated in IS 14543:2004 and IS 13428:2005, respectively. BIS has laid down norms for testing of the product in the scheme of testing and inspection (STI) for IS 13428 and IS 14543. In these STIs, the frequency of testing of the product and appropriate controls to be exercised in manufacturing, are mentioned. All BIS licensed manufacturers are required to follow the scheme of testing and inspection (STI) to ensure that the product conforms to the requirements as per the Indian Standard specification. The compliance to the STI is verified by BIS during surveillance visits to licensed organizations.