Packaged drinking water units to be streamlined

Health officials to meet association members and explain statutory law

Thorough check:Health officials inspecting a packaged drinking water unit in Nilavarapatti in Salem on Saturday

In a measure to streamline packaged drinking water units functioning in the district, officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will meet the members of Salem District Packaged Drinking Water Association here on Sunday and explain the statutory law that should be followed.

This comes after FSSAI officials inspected 33 units including the 24 ISI-certified ones functioning in the district.

Of the 13 samples taken from these units, laboratory report confirmed six samples as substandard, two as unsafe and one as misbranded.

Recently, the officials sealed a unit in the city that was found manufacturing unsafe water.

The officials have taken samples from all the 33 units and sent them to the Food Analysis Laboratory at Guindy in Chennai.

The report that is produced will be submitted before the National Green Tribunal for further action.

Though the officials have warned the units to maintain quality, many units flout the norms and supply substandard water, which is mostly in the 20-litre can.

Dr. T. Anuradha, District Designated Officer, Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Health Administration Department, will make a presentation explaining the need to have the manufacturing date on the can and to cover the can sleeve with brand name.

Also the manufacturers should give authorisation letters to the dealers and the vehicle drivers for transporting the cans with proper bills.

“In spite of insisting on these norms, they do not follow them. Hence they will be instructed to follow the norms without fail,” she said.

She added that the objective was to streamline their business so that people get safe and protected drinking water for the money they have paid.

Officials have inspected 33 units including the 24 ISI-certified ones functioning in Salem district