Govt repeats warning on bottled water

Bottled water companies, manufacturers and importers require certification and registration from the Food Standards Advisory Board and the Secretary for Health and Child Welfare.
In a statement yesterday the FSAB said all water bottling companies, manufacturers and importers must comply with Statutory Instrument 263 of 2002 Food and Foods Standards (Natural mineral Water and bottled drinking water) Regulations.
“Food inspectors will randomly pick water samples from shops and hotels for testing,” the statement said.
The statement issued by the FSAB secretariat at Government Laboratories advised retailers and hotels to ensure that bottled drinking water sold in their premises have a certification letter from the Secretary for Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
Deputy Director of Food Control at the Government’s Analyst Laboratory (GAL) Mr Freddy Chinyavanhu said the development was necessitated by public concerns over bottled water.
“What has necessitated this reminder is the public concern and issues raised in newspapers. We remind companies to fully comply with regulations,” Mr Chinyavanhu said.
FSAB said prospective bottlers should submit samples to GAL for initial assessment to check if the water is chemically and microbiologically suitable for bottling.
If the water meets the requirements of the regulations, the bottler is required to resubmit to GAL, through a food inspector, a sample of the water as it will be sold, together with a water source and bottling plant inspection report.
“The inspection report must show that the water is bottled at source and that the plant meets basic hygienic requirements. Bottling of water away from the source is prohibited,” the statement said.
The FSB said it then assesses the bottled water sample and make appropriate recommendations to the Secretary for Health and Child Welfare.
On packaging, the FSAB said all bottled drinking water should be in clear, colourless bottles with labelling complying with requirements of SI 265 of 2002 (Food and Labelling Regulations) and SI 263 of 2002.
Bottlers are also required to keep own continuous water quality check records for up to two years.
Last year Government banned 40 water bottling firms for failing to meet safety and quality standards.
This follows an influx of unregulated bottled water suppliers in response to a surge in demand.