BIS certification for packaged drinking water

For entrepreneurs looking to enter India’s rapidly growing packaged drinking water industry, the sector offers strong opportunities driven by rising consumer demand and increasing awareness of safe and hygienic drinking water. It explains the ISI certification process under BIS, covering licensing stages, compliance with IS 14543:2024 standards. Through this article, entrepreneurs will gain insights into the fundamentals of ISI Certification under BIS, understand the complete procedure for obtaining a BIS license, identify the essential infrastructure, laboratory setup and ensure adherence to all labeling, and product safety norms as prescribed under the relevant standards – all in the backdrop of rising market demand and strong entrepreneurial interest in this sector.

A. Overview:

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India’s national authority for product quality and safety. Packaged Drinking Water, other than natural mineral water, is covered under IS 14543:2024 within the purview of Scheme-I of Bureau of Indian Standards (Conformity Assessment) Regulations, 2018. From a consumer perspective, ISI certification assures that the water is safe, hygienic, and processed under controlled conditions thereby reinforcing confidence in the product’s purity and reliability. Overall, ISI certification acts as a strategic advantage, ensuring both regulatory compliance and sustainable business growth in an increasingly competitive market.

B. Stages: How to Get the BIS License:

B.1. Application:

Manufacturers of Packaged Drinking Water (other than Packaged Natural Mineral Water) shall apply for grant of licence for his unit online as per the provided application Form V through the Manakonline system – https://www.manakonline.in/MANAK/login. Applications to be submitted under Option 1 (Normal procedure) and not by Option 2 (Simplified procedure) with the enclosures/information on plant layout, process flow chart, machinery, and lab details.

 

B.2. Preliminary Inspection – Pre-requirement:

1. It is essential to get some production & filling/packing done as ‘Trial Batch’ during the visit by BIS officials.

 

1. Plastic bottles are required to be filled only through automatic machine. However, jars maybe filled manually also.

 

iii. Hygienic compliance ensures the manufacturing unit maintains clean premises, sanitized equipment, safe water handling, and proper personal hygiene of workers to prevent contamination during production and packaging.

 

1. Water shall be derived from surface water or civic water supply or underground water or any other consistent source of water. Nature of treatments/disinfection processes, Process description are observed by the inspecting team.

 

1. If remineralisation is part of treatment process, the test certificate indicating the individual ingredients and the respective compositions of each mineral/ingredient in the product shall be kept ready for observation by the visiting team.

 

1. Availability of testing facilities with all equipment having valid calibration from NABL-accredited or any other laboratory provided traceability to National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The test equipment should have valid calibration on the day of the visit.

 

vii. Testing personnel for the unit must be science or engineering graduates in relevant fields. Their qualifications, competence, and experience are to be well recorded for observation by the visiting team.

 

B.3. Preliminary Inspection – BIS Assessment:

During preliminary inspection, the documents/aspects as per norms are verified and assessed by BIS officials including the following key aspects:

 

1. a) Bore well or entry point for the source of raw water, pipeline etc.
2. b) Raw water storage facility
3. c) Plant for the manufacture of the product (with various stages)
4. d) Filling/packing areas, change room, toilets
5. e) Entry/exit with indications of double door/door closures/Air curtains.
6. f) Stores for packaging material and finished product
7. g) Laboratory
8. h) Actual boundary/perimeter of the establishment
9. i) If the premises are also used for residential quarters/other purposes,

 

B.4. Factory Testing:

One sample of the product is tested in the factory during the preliminary inspection for preferably following requirements: Description, Colour, Odour, Taste, Turbidity, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, Chloride, Alkalinity, and Residual Free Chlorine. In case any non-conformity is observed during factory testing, no sample is drawn for independent testing in third party lab.

 

B.5. Sample for Independent Testing:

If the sample passes in factory testing, sample of packaged drinking water shall be drawn. Further, the separate samples of each type of container material (PE, PET, PP, PC etc.) and Type/form of containers (such as bottles, jars, pouches etc) shall also be drawn and sent to BIS approved laboratory for complete testing for all requirements of the Indian Standard. The plastic containers of each capacity shall conform to IS 15410. In addition, the top lid shall be of suitable peelable structure in accordance with IS 15410:2003. Pouches–The polyethylene film and pouches shall conform to IS 15609.

 

B.6. Test Report:

The drawn sample is sealed and labeled in the presence of the applicant or their authorised representative. It is then sent to a BIS-recognized laboratory for independent testing. Conforming tests reports issued by BIS recognized labs through Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). These test reports issued through LIMS, shall not be older than 90 days on the date of submission of application for further proceedings.

 

B.7 Grant of License:

Once tests and inspection reports meet BIS requirements, the license is granted with a unique ‘Certification Mark License’ or CM/L number. The manufacturer may then use the ISI mark on their products. This is a formal license number, comprising of typically seven digit for CM/L-xxxxxxx, which is used to signify that the product has met the required quality, safety, and reliability standards and is authorised to be sold in the Indian market. BIS specifies that the ISI Standard Mark must be shown with the IS number and the CM/L licence number on the product.

 

C. Operational Compliances:

 

C.1. Laboratory:

A laboratory shall be maintained which shall be suitably equipped and staffed with competent testing person to carry out the different tests in accordance with the methods given in the Indian standards. Testing person(s) shall be science/engineering graduate from disciplines such as chemistry/chemical engineering/ microbiology/ biotechnology/ biochemistry/ food technology/ botany and other biological/ life sciences. Engineering graduates from disciplines such as chemical engineering may also be engaged as testing persons.

 

C.2. Calibration plan:

The manufacturer shall prepare and implement a calibration plan for the test equipment.

 

C.3. Test Records:

The manufacturer shall maintain records for the various tests carried out to establish conformity.

 

C.4. Marking:

In to the Standard Mark as per clause 7. 3 of IS 14543:2024 the following information shall be given legibly & indelibly on each bottle/container or its label or directly printed on the pouch/bottle/container.

 

1. a) Name of the product in capital letters
2. b) Name and address of the processor
3. c) Brand name, if any
4. d) Batch or code number;
5. e) Date of manufacture or packaging
6. f) Expiry date/use by
7. g) Treatment of disinfection, if any
8. h) Net quantity
9. i) Direction for storage

 

C.5. Minimum height of the ISI Standard Mark:  

On different pack sizes of Packaged Drinking Water shall be as under:

 

1. Pouch/Cups/bottle (≤ 250 ml capacity): 5mm
2. Bottles (> 250 ml ≤ 500 ml capacity): 7.5mm
3. Bottles (> 500ml capacity): 10mm
4. All re-useable jars: 15mm

 

C.6. Shelf life:

Declared shelf life for Packaged Drinking Water in all type of packing materials shall not be less than 30 days.

 

C.7. Factory Surveillance:

BIS licence holder is required to extend co-operation to the certification officers of BIS or personnel of the agents appointed by BIS to carry out surveillance inspection. The licence holder shall also share relevant records and information sought. He would also facilitate testing in the factory and drawl of samples for independent testing in third party lab. The licence holder shall be required to deposit samples to the designated laboratory as per advice of the officer of BIS.

 

Conclusion:

ISI certification for packaged drinking water under BIS (IS 14543) ensures that the product is safe, pure, and meets prescribed quality standards. The process involves inspection, testing, and hygienic compliance, assuring consumers of reliable and safe drinking water. It enhances brand credibility, ensures regulatory compliance, and promotes responsible manufacturing. Overall, ISI certification serves as a key benchmark for quality assurance, consumer trust and competitive edge in the packaged drinking water industry.