Distribution of packaged drinking water will be streamlined: FSSAI

‘Association of distributors being formed’

The supply of packaged drinking water in the city, which is beset with irregularities, will soon be streamlined, said officer in charge of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in Mysuru Chidambara S.

Pointing out that an association of distributors of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)-registered manufacturers was being formed following a suggestion from the FSSAI, Dr. Chidambara said the bona fide members of the association will be certified by the local authorities.

Malpractices

With regard to the malpractices in the supply of packaged drinking water, he said instances of people filling up 20-litre cans from MCC’s RO plants and selling them to consumers were few. However, he admitted that he had seen a video provided by the distributors of a few people filling up seven to eight cans from a MCC RO plant in Vijayanagar 4th Stage. “But, such cases may be few,” he said.

He said the FSSAI had forced the closure of five to six packaged drinking water manufacturers, who did not possess registration from BIS, in Mysuru during the last five to six months.

In Mysuru district, there were 42 BIS-registered packaged drinking water manufacturers, including 11 in the city. Each unit is believed to supply about 1,000 20-litre cans every day.