FSSAI Scheme of Testing for Packaged Drinking Water & Mineral Water (Effective 1 January 2026)

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a regulatory update on Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) and Mineral Water (MW). Vide order dated 17 December 2025, FSSAI has notified a comprehensive Scheme of Testing for both categories, which will become mandatory from 1 January 2026.

This scheme comes in continuation of FSSAI’s earlier decision to remove mandatory BIS certification for packaged drinking water and mineral water. While the BIS mark is no longer compulsory, FSSAI has strengthened in‑house testing, documentation, and compliance requirements to ensure that consumer safety is not compromised.

Earlier, BIS certification acted as a central compliance mechanism for packaged water. With the omission of mandatory BIS certification in October 2024, FSSAI needed a robust regulatory framework to monitor quality and safety directly under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

The new Scheme of Testing:

• Ensures continuous quality monitoring of water

• Makes FBOs directly responsible for safety and compliance

• Strengthens traceability, records, and corrective actions

• Enhances the role of FSSAI‑notified laboratories

Applicability and Effective Date

• Applicable to all manufacturers of Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water in India

• Mandatory compliance from 01 January 2026

• Covers product water, source water, packaging material, hygiene, and records

Non‑compliance may attract increased inspections and regulatory action by FSSAI.

Key Compliance Requirements

1. Mandatory Testing Records

Every manufacturer must maintain test records for:

• Product water

• Source water

• Packaging materials

• Monthly, quarterly, and six‑monthly tests

These records must be readily available for FSSAI inspection and preserved as per regulatory timelines.

2. Microbiological Testing – Monthly Mandatory

For both Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water, monthly microbiological testing is compulsory. Parameters include:

• Coliforms / E. coli

• Faecal Streptococci

• Staphylococcus aureus

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa

• Yeast & Mould

• Salmonella, Shigella

• Vibrio cholerae & Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Important:
If any microbiological non‑compliance is detected:

• Stock must be re‑tested

• Root cause analysis is mandatory

• Production can restart only after 5 consecutive compliant batches

• Records must be maintained for minimum 5 years

3. Chemical and General Parameters Testing

Chemical parameters such as:

• Heavy metals (Barium, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Aluminium)

• Nitrate, Nitrite, Sulphide

• Phenolic compounds

• Mineral oil

• Anionic surface‑active agents

• Calcium and Magnesium

Must be tested once every three months.

In addition, all parameters prescribed under FSSR 2.10.7 and 2.10.8 must be tested once every six months, as per licensing conditions.

4. Pesticide Residues

• Individual pesticide residues

• Total pesticide residue

These must be tested once in six months.

If any parameter fails in six‑monthly testing, the frequency must be increased to monthly until three consecutive compliant results are obtained.

5. Source Water Control – A Critical Area

Source water testing is one of the most important aspects of the scheme:

• Source water must be tested as per applicable FSSR provisions from FSSAI‑notified accredited laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025)

• Any change in water source requires complete re‑testing before use

• In case of radioactive contamination, the source must be abandoned immediately, and FSSAI must be informed

This makes source water traceability and risk assessment mandatory, not optional.

6. Packaging Material Compliance

All packaging materials must comply with Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulation, 2018.

The scheme clearly defines testing frequencies for:

• Plastic jars and bottles

• Caps and closures

• Polyethylene pouches

• Glass bottles

• Paper‑based multilayer cartons

• Aluminium cans

Most packaging tests are required once every six months from FSSAI‑notified NABL accredited laboratories.

Change of supplier = Fresh testing mandatory.

7. Hygiene, GMP and Operations

Manufacturers must strictly follow:

• Schedule IV of FSS (Licensing & Registration) Regulations

• Hygienic handling from source to dispatch

• Displayed cleaning and sanitation schedules

Hygienic conditions must also be maintained at the water source location, not just inside the factory.

8. Rejection and Disposal of Non‑Conforming Products

Any rejected batch or sample:

• Must be clearly identified

• Stored separately from compliant stock

• Disposed in a manner that prevents misuse

Detailed rejection and disposal records are mandatory.

Increased Regulatory Surveillance

The scheme clearly states that:

• Repeated non‑compliance in six‑monthly reports will trigger risk‑based inspections by FSSAI

• Testing frequencies can be increased at any time based on risk

This highlights FSSAI’s shift towards preventive and risk‑based regulation.

For manufacturers:

• Stronger internal quality systems are now essential

• Testing is no longer just a formality

For laboratories:

• Increased demand for routine compliance testing

• Greater responsibility for accuracy, traceability, and reporting

For consumers:

• Improved safety and confidence in packaged water products

For More Details Download Offical FSSAI Notification

📄 Download Official FSSAI Document