The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued new guidelines following the omission of mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification for certain food products under the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibitions and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011. Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water, previously requiring mandatory BIS certification, will now be treated as part of the 'High-Risk Food Categories' under FSSAI's Risk-Based Inspection Scheduling (RBIS) policy.

This move comes after the Gazette notification of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) First Amendment Regulations, 2024, dated October 17, 2024. Other food products previously requiring BIS certification are already categorized as high-risk under FSSAI's RBIS policy. Key Amendments to the RBIS Policy:

• Inclusion in High-Risk Food Categories - Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water are now classified as high-risk under point 14.1 of Annexure-1 of the FSSAI RBIS policy.

• Mandatory Inspection Prior to Licensing - Inspection of manufacturers and processors of food products previously requiring BIS certification is mandatory before granting licenses or registrations.

• Annual Inspection Frequency - Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water manufacturers are required to undergo mandatory inspections once a year.

• Third-Party Audits for High-Risk Food Categories - All centrally licensed manufacturers under the High-Risk Food Categories, including Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water, must have their businesses audited annually by an FSSAI-recognized third-party food safety auditing agency.

These measures aim to enhance food safety standards and ensure compliance within the packaged drinking water and mineral water manufacturing sector.

This directive has been communicated to the Commissioners of Food Safety across all States and Union Territories, Regional Directors, and Central Licensing Authorities of FSSAI. It is also accessible on the FSSAI website for public and enforcement authority reference.