Lok Sabha Question No. 2537 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-01
Subject: Duplicate Mineral Water Bottle
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: V. SATHYABAMA

## Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution

## Government of India Department of Consumer Affairs

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2537

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2017

## DUPLICATE MINERAL WATER BOTTLE

## 2537.   SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA:

Will  the  Minister  of  CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD  AND  PUBLIC  DISTRIBUTION miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k ea=h be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that there are a number of reported cases of impure/duplicate mineral water bottles being supplied in the markets particularly in the metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata;
- (b) if so, the action taken by the Government in this regard so far;
- (c) whether the authorities concerned are making routine checking and inspection in the markets in order to stop supply of these kinds of inferior quality mineral water in bottles; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof ?

## ANSWER

## miHkksDrk ekeys] [kk| vkSj lkoZtfud forj.k jkT; ea=h ¼Jh lh- vkj- pkS/kjh½

## THE MINISTER OF STATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI C. R. CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d) : Standards  for  Packaged  Mineral  Water  and  Packaged  Drinking  Water  (other  than Mineral Water) are prescribed under sub-regulations 2.10.7 and 2.10.8 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Products & Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 respectively and compliance to these standards is mandatory for any packaged drinking water manufacturer in the country. These products are also under mandatory certification of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).

These requirements are to be followed by all manufacturers of packaged water.  However, cases of sale of packaged water by unlicensed units and not meeting the prescribed standards have come to the notice of FSSAI.  Therefore, FSSAI has been regularly taking up the matter with the Food Safety Commissioners of States/UTs and urging them to undertake regular and effective enforcement action in the matter.

Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and random sampling of food products, including packaged  water  are  being  undertaken  by  the  officials  of  Food  Safety  Departments  of  the  respective States/UTs to check that they comply with the standards laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations made thereunder.  In cases where the food samples are found to be  non-conforming,  recourse  is  taken  to  penal  provisions  under  Chapter  IX  of  the  Food  Safety  and Standards Act, 2006.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) from time to time receives complaints regarding quality of BIS Standard marked Packaged Natural Mineral water and Packaged Drinking Water as per IS 13428 and IS 14543 respectively. Similarly complaints are also received regarding misuse of Standard Mark on Packaged Drinking Water/Packaged Natural Mineral water by manufacturers without having valid BIS Licence.

Complaints  regarding  quality  of  BIS  Standard  Marked  Packaged  Natural  Mineral  water  and Packaged  Drinking  Water  are  investigated  both  at  complainant-end  and  Licencee's  premises  for redressal.

Complaints regarding misuse of BIS Standard Mark (ISI mark) on Packaged Natural Mineral water and Packaged  Drinking  Water  are  investigated.  Depending  on  outcome  of  the  investigation,  raids  are conducted and cases are filed in the concerned court of law

As per the information  available  with  FSSAI  from  the  State/UT  Governments,  the  details  of samples of Packaged Drinking Water/Mineral Water collected, tested, found not conforming and action taken during the year 2016-17 is as under:

| Samples collected   | Samples analyzed   | Samples found adulterated and misbranded   | No. of cases launched   | No. of cases launched   | No. of convictions/penalties   | No. of convictions/penalties      |
|---------------------|--------------------|--------------------------------------------|-------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|                     |                    |                                            | Crimin al               | Civil                   | Convictions                    | Penalties/amou nt raised (in Rs.) |
| 743                 | 697                | 224                                        | 48                      | 83                      | 33                             | 40/7,05,500                       |

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