Uttar Pradesh Makes BIS Certification Mandatory for Packaged Drinking Water and Mineral Water Manufacturers

The Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA), Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, has issued an order dated 13 October 2026 making BIS certification packaged drinking water compulsory for every packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water manufacturing unit in the State. The order is issued under Sections 18(1)(a) and 30(2)(d) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and takes effect immediately within Uttar Pradesh. Existing units have time until 31 March 2027 to obtain BIS certification, failing which their food licence or registration will stay suspended and production will have to stop.

If you manufacture, bottle, pack or plan to start a packaged water unit in Uttar Pradesh, this order directly affects your licence, your compliance calendar and your project cost. Here is a clear summary of what it says and what you should do next.

Why the Food Safety Department Issued This Order

The order records the findings of inspection and enforcement drives carried out over the past one year on packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water units in Uttar Pradesh:

• 811 manufacturing units were inspected.
• Most of them were found violating the sanitation and hygiene standards given in Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Businesses Licensing and Registration) Regulations, 2011.
• Many units had no test reports for their water source, no proper filtration, no UV treatment plant and no ozonation facility, and relied on manual handling in their processes.
• On the basis of physical inspection alone, the licences or registrations of 152 units were suspended and production was stopped until corrections were made.
• Of 660 samples collected, 176 were declared unsafe for health in microbiological analysis and 337 were declared substandard.
• The unsafe samples showed E. coli bacteria, coliform bacteria, and yeast and mould, which points to poor treatment and unsuitable storage of treated water. The substandard samples had calcium, magnesium and other minerals below the normal level.
• Production was stopped at units linked to unsafe samples, and suspension of the licences of 55 centrally licensed units was also recommended.

Background: How the BIS Requirement Was Removed Earlier

Under Regulations 2.3.14(17) and (18) of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) Regulations, 2011, ISI certification was earlier required for selling packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water respectively. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) discontinued that requirement on 18 October 2024. It also placed packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water in the high-risk food category, and the condition of BIS certification for licensing of their manufacturing units was ended.

According to the order, the removal of the BIS condition led to a sharp rise in the number of manufacturing units. Uttar Pradesh now has 968 operational units, but product quality has fallen. The order notes that roughly 25 per cent of the water being produced was found harmful to health.

The Commissioner also points out that consumers buy packaged water mainly because they trust its quality, and that water-borne diseases account for about 70 per cent of the illnesses reported in the country. Given this, the lapse in quality was treated as a serious public health concern.

Key Directions in the Order

1. New licences and registrations. Fresh food licences or registrations for packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water manufacturing units will be issued only after the unit is BIS certified.

2. Existing units. Units that are already operating must obtain BIS certification by 31 March 2027. After that date, any unit that has not obtained certification will have its licence or registration suspended and manufacturing will remain closed until BIS certification is obtained.

3. Centrally licensed units. Manufacturing units working in Uttar Pradesh under a Central licence must also obtain BIS certification within the same period.

The order has been sent to the CEO of FSSAI, the Secretary of the FSDA Department, all Divisional Commissioners and District Magistrates, and all field food safety officers for compliance. The Director, BIS Regional Unit, Uttar Pradesh has been requested to dispose of the certification applications received on a priority basis.

Who Is Affected

• Existing packaged drinking water and mineral water plants holding a State FSSAI licence or registration in Uttar Pradesh
• Units operating on a Central FSSAI licence within the State
• New entrepreneurs, franchise bottlers and investors planning to set up a packaged water plant
• Contract manufacturers and brand owners who source packaged water from Uttar Pradesh units

Practical Steps to Take Before 31 March 2027

1. Do not wait for the deadline. BIS certification involves an application, a factory inspection and laboratory testing of samples, and the BIS office is likely to see a heavy rush of applications.
2. Upgrade the plant. Check that your filtration, UV treatment and ozonation systems are in place and working, and that hygiene practices meet Schedule 4 requirements.
3. Test your source water. Keep a current laboratory test report for the water source and for the finished product.
4. Reduce manual handling in bottling, capping and storage wherever possible.
5. Keep your FSSAI licence and returns up to date, because a suspended licence can stop dispatches and affect your customers’ trust.
6. Plan the cost. Certification fees, plant upgrades, testing and recurring compliance should be built into your budget and cash-flow planning for the coming months.

Impact on Business and Finance

A suspension of production hits revenue immediately, while fixed costs such as loan instalments, wages and rent continue. Units that delay certification risk losing customers and facing disruption in supply contracts. Capital spent on treatment equipment and laboratory facilities also needs correct accounting treatment and, where relevant, planning for depreciation and input tax credit under GST.

How Sagar S Gupta & Co Can Help

Sagar S Gupta & Co is a Chartered Accountants firm in Shivpur, Varanasi, led by CA Sagar Gupta (FCA, ACS, LLB), and has been serving businesses since 2017.

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Disclaimer: This article is a summary of the order of the Commissioner, Food Safety and Drug Administration, Uttar Pradesh dated 13 October 2026 and is for general information only. It is not legal advice. Please read the original order and consult a professional for your specific situation.