FDA seals 4 water-bottling units for evading BIS norms

AURANGABAD: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) sealed four units for running their business without a Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification in Waluj Bajajnagar on Monday in an attempt to tighten the noose on errant bottled and packaged drinking water companies. 

"Earlier, the department had served notices to 19 units in the city for not abiding by the FDA Act," said Aurangabad division joint commissioner (Food) of FDA Chandrashekhar Salunke. "Many plants operating in the city are facing such action for avoiding BIS certification," he added. 

"In a raid launched by food safety officers on Monday, the FDA sealed four units in Waluj Bajajnagar. Officials collected 10 samples of water from these units and sent them for testing to the laboratory," informed FDA's assistant commissioner (Food), Aurangabad, M D Shah. 

"Though state governments issue permission to set up water-bottling plants, BIS grants product licences. The agency has the mandate to ensure quality of both packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water," said FSO R D Munde. 

"Many bottling unit owners invest up to Rs 2 lakh while a standard mineral water processing plant needs around Rs 20 lakh and many supply water without ISO certification. The demand for packaged water is so high that it hardly matters whether the contents are certified or not. People don't ask about the certification," said FSO Varsha Rode. 

"Consumption of packaged drinking water rises during summer. Most illegal plants fill the bottles with tap or ground water and sell it as processed drinking water," said another FSO, J V Kasar. 

Meanwhile, the president of Udyog Kranti Udyojak Sangh, Asaram Phulare said, "It is beyond the reach of small scale entrepreneurs to procure BIS certification. The unit owner will have to incur expenses of around Rs 2.5 lakh to get the certification. Moreover, every year the owner has to spend Rs 90,000 for renewal charges." 

Phulare added that as per BIS specifications, the unit has to employ two technicians. "Nowadays, a technician demands no less than Rs 25,000 as salary per month. If you consider the overall expenses, the unit owner has to incur around Rs 15 lakh per year, which a small businessman cannot afford," he said. 

"Before the FDA Act was executed in 2011, we were following all the Acts and made sure the products did not pose any health threats to people. With the new specifications, it has become very difficult for small scale entrepreneurs to survive," Phulare added. 

"The government implements Acts in favour of major industries that are against the survival of small scale entrepreneurs. Multinational and foreign companies require to seek licences just once in 45 days and do not have to apply for renewal," he claimed. 

Meanwhile, FDA officials said, "The expense to seek BIS certification comes to about Rs 2 lakh. This is compelling entrepreneurs to escape following the norms. But as per rules, the FDA will continue the drive and go after all such persons who violate the Act."