The Standard IS 14543 provides sufficient freedom to the manufacturer to adopt any process for converting raw water into packaged water for drinking purposes. However, there are restrictions with regard to the processing of packaged natural mineral water as specified in IS 13428, like water shall not go through processes, such as reverse osmosis, demineralization or disinfection before packaging.

Definition As Per Standard-

Natural Mineral Water – Water clearly distinguishable from ordinary drinking water because:
  1. Take it directly from natural or drilled sources from underground water-bearing layers, we ought to take all possible prevention to avoid any contamination by external influence on, the chemical and physical qualities;
  2. Its mineral content, salts and their relative proportions and presence of trace elements or other constituents are characterizing factors.
  3. 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.
  4. Collection under conditions which assures the original microbiological purity and chemical composition of essential components;
  5. Packaging, close to the point of emergence of the source with particular hygienic precautions;
  6. No treatments are advisable other than the standard ones.

Treatment

Treatments for packaged natural mineral water include separation from unstable constituents, such as compounds containing iron, manganese, sulfur or arsenic, by decantation and/or simple filtration up to 0.5 microns, if necessary, accelerated by the previous aeration as per the standard.
Furthermore, Prohibition of transporting of natural mineral waters in bulk containers for packaging or for any further processing before packaging.

Hygiene Conditions

Especially, collection, processing, handling, packaging, and marketing of natural mineral water should stay in accordance with the hygienic practices. In addition, It’s necessary to form a checklist for good hygienic practices. In addition to this, prepare check-list for food safety system for packaged natural mineral water processing units also.

Requirements

Microbial contamination- It should be free from microbial contamination. All micro-organisms such as E.coli, Coliform, Streptococci, Sulphite reducing anaerobes, Pseudomonas, Yeast, Molds, Shigella, Salmonella, Vibro cholera etc. should be absent.

Packaging

Natural mineral water shall be packed in clean, hygienic, colorless, transparent and tamper-proof bottles/containers, made of polyethylene (PE) conforming to IS 10146 or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) conforming to IS 10151 or polypropylene conforming to IS 10910 or polyalkylene terephthalate (PET and PBT) conforming to IS 12252 or poly carbonate conforming to IS 14971 or polystyrene conforming to IS 10142 or sterile glass bottles suitable for preventing possible adulteration or contamination of the water. In addition, Plastic containers shall be conforming to IS 15410. Most noteworthy, all packaging materials of plastic origin shall pass the overall migration and color migration limits as laid down in the relevant Indian Standards for products for respective packaging materials during tests as per the guidelines.

Marking

The following particulars should be present on the label of the bottle/container:
  1. Name of the product
  2. Supplementary designations, if any;
  3. Name and address of the processor;
  4. Brand name, if any;
  5. Batch or Code number;
  6. Date of processing/packing;
  7. Best for consumption up to  (date/month! year in capital letters); or Best for consumption within days or months from the date of processing/packing;
  8. Net volume
  9. Location and name of the source of natural mineral water;
  10. Direction for storage
  11. Furthermore, any other markings required under the Standards of Weights and Measure (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977and the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954 and the Rules framed there-under.

Labeling Prohibitions

No claims concerning medicinal effects shall be made in respect of the properties of the product covered by the standard.

BIS Certification

The product may also be marked with the Standard Marks governed by the provisions of Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 and the Rules and Regulations framed there-under.

Sampling

Moreover, Representative samples of natural mineral water shall be drawn and the criteria for conformity to this standard shall be established accordingly.