COIMBATORE: The next time you buy packaged drinking water, you might actually be giving business to an illegal manufacturing unit. Recently, the city has seen a spurt in the number of illegal drinking water packaging units. Thirty such illegal units have been identified in Coimbatore, that function without any ISI certification or food safety standards licence.
Officials say the reason behind this increase is the ambiguous description of packaged water by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Food Safety and Standards Act. According to section 3 (1) (j) of the Act, "Food" means any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, which is intended for human consumption and includes packaged drinking water. Sources say, these illegal packaged drinking water units identify themselves as makers of herbal water or flavoured water to bypass the BIS and food safety rules.
"When they claim their packaged water to be herbal or flavoured, their unit is outside the purview of BIS or food safety wing," says Dr R Kathiravan, designated officer, food safety wing, Tamil Nadu food safety and drug administration. Appealing to the public to be cautious about such packaged water, Dr Kathiravan said that till the Act gets amended, both BIS and food safety officials cannot penalise these illegal units, as they cannot be regulated due to the loopholes in the Act. "This does not mean that we will be mute spectators. We will take action against such units if we get complaints," he informed.
Dr Kathivaran said officials can send the water from such illegal units for lab testing so that appropriate action can be taken. "They might or might not add herbs or flavours to it," Dr Kathiravan said. Public can file a complaint by calling 0422-2220922, if they come across any such illegal unit. It may be noted that ISI certification is a must for packaged drinking water. When contacted, Ganesan, joint secretary general, Tamil Nadu packaged drinking water manufacturers association acknowledged that many such units exist and that it was the responsibility of the government to take action. "Another factor that leads to the increase in number of such units is when ISI certification is cancelled by authorities due to any discrepancy on the part of the manufacturer," he said. Noting that the spurt in such units would affect public health, Ganesan called for immediate steps so that genuine units can stay in the market.
Officials say the reason behind this increase is the ambiguous description of packaged water by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Food Safety and Standards Act. According to section 3 (1) (j) of the Act, "Food" means any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, which is intended for human consumption and includes packaged drinking water. Sources say, these illegal packaged drinking water units identify themselves as makers of herbal water or flavoured water to bypass the BIS and food safety rules.
"When they claim their packaged water to be herbal or flavoured, their unit is outside the purview of BIS or food safety wing," says Dr R Kathiravan, designated officer, food safety wing, Tamil Nadu food safety and drug administration. Appealing to the public to be cautious about such packaged water, Dr Kathiravan said that till the Act gets amended, both BIS and food safety officials cannot penalise these illegal units, as they cannot be regulated due to the loopholes in the Act. "This does not mean that we will be mute spectators. We will take action against such units if we get complaints," he informed.
Dr Kathivaran said officials can send the water from such illegal units for lab testing so that appropriate action can be taken. "They might or might not add herbs or flavours to it," Dr Kathiravan said. Public can file a complaint by calling 0422-2220922, if they come across any such illegal unit. It may be noted that ISI certification is a must for packaged drinking water. When contacted, Ganesan, joint secretary general, Tamil Nadu packaged drinking water manufacturers association acknowledged that many such units exist and that it was the responsibility of the government to take action. "Another factor that leads to the increase in number of such units is when ISI certification is cancelled by authorities due to any discrepancy on the part of the manufacturer," he said. Noting that the spurt in such units would affect public health, Ganesan called for immediate steps so that genuine units can stay in the market.
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