Quality standard for Packaged drinking water and Mineral Water

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control proposes the quality standard for above mentioned food products:
i) as a compulsory provision under food law and regulation;
ii) to monitor export / import of these food products; and
iii) to maintain safe and quality food product to the consumer.
"Packaged waters", other than natural mineral waters, are waters for human consumption and may contain minerals, naturally occurring or intentionally added; may contain carbon dioxide, naturally occurring or intentionally added; but shall not contain sugars, sweeteners, flavourings or other foodstuffs.
"Natural mineral water" is a water clearly distinguishable from ordinary drinking water because:
a) it is characterized by its content of certain mineral salts and their relative proportions and the presence of trace elements or of other constituents;
b) it is obtained directly from natural or drilled sources from underground water bearing strata for which all possible precautions should be taken within the protected perimeters to avoid any pollution of, or external influence on, the chemical and physical qualities of natural mineral water;
c) of the constancy of its composition and the stability of its discharge and its temperature, due account being taken of the cycles of minor natural fluctuations;
d) it is collected under conditions which guarantee the original microbiological purity and chemical composition of essential components;
e) it is packaged close to the point of emergence of the source with particular hygienic precautions; and
f) it is not subjected to any treatment other than those permitted by this standard.
The proposed standard sets the requirement for essential composition and quality factors, hygiene, packaging and labelling requirements as per the codex standard.