Crackdown on UP's 968 packaged drinking water units; certification mandatory by 31 March 2027
UPFSDA commissioner issues order after lapses in quality and hygiene found in inspection of 811 units
176 samples found unsafe for health during inspections; licenses/registrations of 152 units suspended
Units that fail to obtain BIS certification within the deadline will have licenses suspended and production halted
Order effective immediately within Uttar Pradesh; units with central licenses also covered
Lucknow, October 2026 : The uttar pradesh food safety and drug administration has taken a major step regarding the purity of bottled water. Now, new units in the state will be issued a food safety license or registration only after receiving certification from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). All units already operating must obtain certification by 31 March 2027. Units that do not obtain certification by the set deadline will have their license or registration suspended and production will remain halted.
Keeping public health paramount, Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob has issued orders. The arrangement has been implemented with immediate effect within the boundaries of Uttar Pradesh. Manufacturing units operating in the state with central licenses will also fall within its scope. The direct message of the order is that compliance with quality standards in the production and trade of packaged water is no longer a mere formality, but a mandatory condition for continuing the license and production.
FSDA tightens its grip
Over the past year, FSDA inspected 811 packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water manufacturing units in the state and took enforcement action. Of the 660 samples taken from packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water manufacturing units in the state, 176 were found unsafe for health and 337 were substandard. That is, 513 of the samples tested did not meet the prescribed quality standards. Microorganisms such as E. coli, coliform bacteria, yeast and mold were found in the unsafe samples. In some places, deficiencies were found in the water treatment system, while in others, violations of hygiene and storage standards were found. The lapses that emerged during this period were not limited to paper compliance; they were also linked to water treatment, the production process and hygiene arrangements. In many units, the source water test report was not available. The absence of necessary treatment facilities such as filters, ultraviolet (UV) treatment plants and ozonation was also revealed. In some units, work was being done by hand during the production process, which could create hygiene and contamination risks. In view of these serious lapses, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has tightened regulatory control over packaged water manufacturing units.
Action against 152 units, suspension of 55 central licenses recommended
Based on deficiencies found in physical inspections along with quality testing, FSDA suspended the licenses or registrations of 152 units. Production of these units was shut down until necessary improvements are made. Action to halt production, as per the rules, was also taken in units where unsafe samples were found. In addition, suspension of the licenses of 55 centrally licensed units has been recommended. In this sequence, the department's new order sets a clear compliance deadline for businesses. For new units, obtaining a BIS certification license will be mandatory, while existing units will have to ensure their eligibility by obtaining certification within the stipulated period. After the deadline passes, the provision of license or registration remaining suspended and production being halted in the absence of certification will apply.
Number of units rose after the certification requirement was removed
The FSDA order also mentions the regulatory background of the packaged water business. Under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, ISI certification was required for the sale of packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) ended this requirement from 18 October 2024. After that, these products were placed in the category of high-risk food products, and the BIS certification requirement for licensing manufacturing units was also removed. According to the department, after this change, the number of packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water manufacturing units in the state increased, and their total number is currently 968. However, inspections and laboratory tests revealed serious deficiencies related to quality, hygiene and treatment systems. In this situation, the department has decided to make the certification system mandatory again, so as to strengthen the quality accountability of production units.
The question of water purity is related to consumer trust
According to Dr. Roshan Jacob, Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, the packaged drinking water business rests on the consumer's trust that they are paying a price assuming the water's purity and safety is assured. When laboratory tests find harmful microorganisms in water samples or reveal flaws in the treatment process, the matter is not limited to a violation of business rules, but becomes directly linked to public health. Keeping this aspect in mind, FSDA has taken this decision under the relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Through the order, the certification arrangements have been clarified for licenses of new units, the operation of existing units, and manufacturers holding central licenses. Now all concerned units in the state will have to obtain BIS certification within the prescribed deadline.
Three key provisions of the order
1. For new units: New manufacturing units of packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water will be issued a license or registration only after receiving BIS certification.
2. For already operating units: All existing units must obtain BIS certification by 31 March 2027. Failing this, their license or registration will remain suspended and production will remain halted until certification is obtained.
3. For units with central licenses: Manufacturing units operating in Uttar Pradesh with central licenses
must also obtain BIS certification by the prescribed deadline.
