Natural Mineral water means the mineral water obtained directly from potable
natural or drilled sources like spring, artesian well, drilled well or from an
underground formation and not from public water supply. It shall be free from
dirt, foreign matter or any other ingredients injurious to health. It shall not
be transported in bulk container for package or any other processing before packing.
Inserted by Notification No. GSR. 907(E), dated 14-11-1994 (w.e.f. 14-11-1994)
as corrected by Notification No. GSR. 518(E), dated 26-6-1995.
3.
Substituted by the following vide Notification No. 759(E), dated, 29-9-2000 (w.e.f.
29-3-2001).
"A32. 1. Mineral water means includes all kinds of Mineral or Natural
mineral water by whatever name it is called and sold.
2.
Description and Types of Mineral water.
(i) Natural mineral water is water clearly distinguished 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 and not from Public water supply for which all possible precautions
should be taken within the protected perimeters to avoid any pollution of , or
external influence on, the cheruical 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 sysles 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;
(f)
it is not subjected to any treatment other those permitted by this standard;
(ii) Naturally Carbonated Natural Mineral Water-A naturally carbonated natural
mineral water is a natural water, after possible treatment as given hereunder
and rer-incorporation of gas from the same source and after packing taking into
consideration usual technical tolerance, has the same content of carbon dioxide
spontaneously and visibly given off under normal conditions of temperature conditions
of temperature and pressure.
(iii) Non-carbonated Natural Mineral Water- A non-carbonated natural mineral
water is a natural mineral water which, by nature and after possible treatment
a given hereunder and after packing taking into consideration usual technical
tolerance, does not contain free carbon dioxide in excess of the of the amount
necessary to keep the hydrogen carbonate salts present in the water dissolved.
(iv) Decarbonated Natural Mineral Water - A decarbonated natural mineral is
a natural mineral water which, after possible treatment as given hereunder not
after packing, has less carbon dioxide content than that at emergence and does
not visibly and spontaneously give carbon dioxide under normal conditions of temperature
and pressure.
(v) Natural Mineral Water Fortified with Carbon dioxide from the Source - A
natural mineral water fortified with carbon dioxide from the source is a natural
mineral water which, after possible treatment as given hereunder and after packing,
has more carbon dioxide content than that at emergence.
(vi) Carbonated Natural Mineral Water - A carbonated natural mineral water
is a natural mineral water which, after possible treatment as given hereunder
and after packing, has been made effervescent by the addition of carbon dioxide
from another origin.
3.
Treatment and handling:- Treatment permitted include separation from unstable
constituents, such as compounds containing iron, manganese, sulphur or arsenic,
by decantation and /or filtration, if necessary, accelerated by previous aeration.
The treatments provided may only be carried out on condition that the mineral
content of the water is not modified in its essential constituents, which give
the water its properties.
The transport of natural mineral waters in
bulk containers for packing or for any other process before packing is prohibited.
Natural Mineral water shall be packaged in clean and sterile containers.
The source on the point emergence shall be protected against risks of pollution.
The installation intended for the production of natural mineral waters shall be
such as to exclude any possibility of contamination. For this purpose, and in
particular-.
(a) the installations for collection, the pipes and the reservoirs shall be
made from materials suited to the water and in such a way as to prevent the introduction
of foreign substances into the water,
(b) the equipment and its use for
production, especially installations for washing and packing, shall meet hygienic
requirements;
(c) if, during production it is found that the water is polluted,
the producer shall stop all operations until the cause of pollution is eliminated;
4.
All Mineral Water shall conform to the following standard, namely:-
Sl. No.
Characteristics
Requirements
1
2
3
1.
Colour, Hazen Unit/True Colour
Unit
not more than 2
2.
Odour
Agreeable
3.
Taste
Agreeable
4.
Turbidity
Not more than 2 nephelometric turbidity
unit (NTU)
5.
Total
Dissolved Solids
150-700 mg/liter
6.
PH
6.5 – 8.5
7.
Nitrites (as NO3)
Not more than 50 mg/liter
8.
Nitrites (as NO2)
Not more than 0.02 mg/liter
9.
Sulphide (as H2S)
Not more than 0.05 mg/liter
10.
Mineral oil
Not detectable
11.
Phenolic compounds(as C6H5OH)
Not detectable
12.
Manganese (as Mn)
Not more than 2.0mg/liter
13.
Copper (as Cu)
Not more than 1mg/liter
14.
Zinc (as Zn)
Not more than 5 mg/liter
15.
Fluoride (as F)
Not more than 1 mg/liter
16.
Barium (as Ba)
Not more than 1.0 mg/liter
17.
Antimony (as Sb)
Not more than 0.005 mg/liter
18.
Nickle (as Ni)
Not more than 0.002mg/liter
19.
Borate (as B)
Not more than 5 mg/liter
20.
Surface active agents
Not detectable
21.
Silver (as Ag)
Not more than 0.01 mg/liter
22.
Chlorides (as Cl)
Not more than 200 mg/liter
23.
Sulphate (as SO4)
Not more than 200 mg/liter
24.
Magnesium (as Mg)
Not more than 50 mg/liter
25.
Calcium (as Ca)
Not more than 100 mg/liter
26.
Sodium (as Na)
Not more than 150 mg/liter
27.
Alkalinity (as HCO3)
75-400 mg / liter
28.
Arsenic (as As)
Not more than 0.05 mg/liter
29.
Cadmium (as Cd)
Not more than 0.003 mg/liter
30.
Cyanide (as CN)
Not more than 0.07 mg/liter
31.
Chromium (as Cr)
Not more than 0.05 mg/liter
32.
Mercury (as Hg)
Not more than 0.001 mg/liter
33.
Lead (as Pb)
Not more than 0.01 mg/liter
34.
Selenium (as Se)
Not more than 0.05 mg/liter
35.
Poly nuclear armatic hydrocarbons
Not detectable
36.
Polychlorinated biphenyle (PCB)
Not detectable
37.
Pesticide Residue
Below detectable limits
38.
“Alpha” activity
Not more than 0.1 Bacquer 1/liter
(Bq)
39.
“Beta” activity
Not more than 0.1 Bacquer 1/liter
(Bq)
40.
Yeast and mould counts
Absent
41.
Salmonella and Shigella
Absent
42.
E.Coli or thermotolerant Coliforms
1 x 250 ml
Absent
43.
Total coliform bacteria A x 250
ml
Absent
44.
Fecai Streptococci and Staphylococcus
aureus 1 x 250 ml
Absent
45.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1 x 250
ml
Absent
46.
Sulphite-reducing anaerobes 1 x
50 ml
Absent
47.
Vibrocholera 1 x 250 ml
Absent
48.
V Parahaemolyticus 1 x 250 ml
Absent
5.
Labelling Prohibitions No claims concerning medical (Preventative, alleviative
or curative) effects shall be made respect of the properties of the product covered
by the standard. Claims of other beneficial effect to the health of the consumer
shall not be made.
The name of the locality, hamlet or specified place
may not form part of the trade name unless it refers to a natural mineral water
collected at the place designated by that trade name.
The use of any statement
or of any pictorial device which may create confusion in the mind of the public
or in any way mislead the public about the nature, origin, composition and properties
of natural mineral waters put on sale is prohibited.
