FSSAI has once again re-operatoinalised the proposed regulations related to the permissible limits of minerals in packaged drinking water through an Amendment Regulations with respect to the values of Total Dissolved Solids including Calcium and Magnesium based on the recommendations of Scientific Panel/Committee.
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The food authority has, in this regard, issued an order saying that due to delay in procedures for approval of Draft Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives), Amendment Regulations regarding the standards of Packaged Drinking Water (other than Mineral Water), the decision was taken to re-operationalise the same.
The order reads that the draft amendment regulations are in the process of approval by the Food Authority. The draft publication and its final notification are likely to take further more time. Meanwhile, to allow the FBOs to formulate Packaged Drinking Water (other than Mineral Water), it has been decided to operationalise the provisions of the draft amendment with immediate effect.
According to the proposed amendment, “Under sub-regulation 2.10.8 relating to the standards of Packaged Drinking Water, the Permissible Limits given in column (3) of the Sr. No. 5 of Table 2, Sr. No. l5 and 16 of Table 3 shall be substituted with the following”:
| Total dissolved solids | mg/l | 75 to 500 |
| Calcium (as Ca) | mg/l | 10 to 75 |
| Magnesium (as Mg) | mg/l | 5 to 30 |
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
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The FSSAI has been established under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, which is a consolidating statute related to food safety and regulation in India.
Earlier, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the timelines for enforcement of packaged drinking water norms till January 1, 2022. It was earlier slated to come into force from July 1. The norms are related to limits of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in packaged drinking water products.
