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          Small Entity Compliance Guide: Bottled Water and ArsenicSearch for FDA Guidance Documents SMALL ENTITY COMPLIANCE GUIDE
	Small Entity Compliance Guide: Bottled Water and Arsenic
					
		
		April 2009


	Read the Federal Register Notice 

    Final

	  
	  
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    PrintDocket Number:
		    FDA-2009-D-0196
	    	    		    Issued by:
		    Guidance Issuing Office
          Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition


*This guidance represents the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.*

Table of Contents

Introduction
	Background
	Questions and AnswersI. Introduction

On June 9, 2005, FDA published a final rule that amended its bottled water quality standard regulations by revising the existing allowable level for the contaminant arsenic. As a consequence, bottled water manufacturers are required to monitor their finished bottled water products for arsenic at least once each year under the current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for bottled water (21 CFR part 129). Bottled water manufacturers are also required to monitor their source water for arsenic as often as necessary, but at least once each year unless they meet the criteria for the source water monitoring exemptions under the CGMP regulations. This final rule became effective on January 23, 2006 (70 FR 33694).

FDA has prepared this Small Entity Compliance Guide in accordance with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (Public Law 104-121). This guidance document restates in plain language the legal requirements of the June 9, 2006 final rule set forth in 21 CFR part 165 concerning the contaminant arsenic. These regulations are binding and have the full force and effect of law.

FDA's guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency's current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of the word should in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but not required.

II. Background

Under section 410(b)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, not later than 180 days before the effective date of a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a contaminant under section 1412 of the Safe Drinking Water Act, FDA is required to issue a standard of quality regulation for that contaminant in bottled water or make a finding that such a regulation is not necessary to protect the public health because the contaminant is contained in water in public water systems but not in water used for bottled drinking water.

In the Federal Register of January 22, 2001 (66 FR 6976), EPA published a final rule establishing a maximum contaminant level for arsenic in public drinking water. EPA took this action, in part, because studies have shown long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic in drinking water may result in increased risk of cancer (e.g., skin, bladder, lung, kidney, liver, prostate, and nasal passage) and is associated with noncancer effects, such as alterations in gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematological (e.g., anemia), pulmonary, neurological, immunological, and reproductive/developmental function. In response to this EPA rulemaking, FDA published the June 9, 2005 final rule. This final rule ensures that the minimum quality of bottled water, as affected by arsenic, remains comparable with the quality of public drinking water that meets EPA's standards.

III. Questions and Answers

What is the allowable level established by FDA for arsenic in bottled water?

	The allowable level established by FDA for arsenic in bottled water is 10 micrograms (0.010 milligrams) per liter of water. (21 CFR 165.110(b)(4)(iii)(A)).
	What analytical methods are used for determining compliance with the quality standard for arsenic in bottled water?

	The analytical methods used for determining compliance with the quality standard for arsenic in bottled water are as follows:

	Method 200.8--"Determination of Trace Elements in Waters and Wastes by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry," Revision 5.4.
		Method 200.9--"Determination of Trace Elements by Stabilized Temperature Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption," Revision 2.2.(21 CFR 165.110(b)(4)(iii)(E)(14)).Related Information

Bottled Water/Carbonated Soft Drinks Guidance Documents & Regulatory InformationSubmit Comments
	   		  			    		Submit Comments Online
					You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))
						If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:
						Dockets Management
							Food and Drug Administration
							5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
							Rockville, MD 20852
						All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2009-D-0196.

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      09/20/2018
         
                  
Regulated Product(s)
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			  ArsenicSearch for FDA Guidance Documents

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