On 14 October 2026, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) issued an order making Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification compulsory for packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water manufacturing units in the state. The order was signed by FSDA Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob, was issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and was reported to take effect immediately (The Statesman, APN News and The Sandesh Wahak, all 14 October 2026).
This is a state-level move. Nationally, FSSAI's position since October 2024 has not changed: the BIS/ISI mark is voluntary for packaged drinking water and mineral water, and these products are regulated as high-risk foods instead. Plant owners in Uttar Pradesh, and anyone planning a unit there, now have an additional requirement on top of the national rules.
What the order requires
According to the reports of 14 October 2026:
- New units: a food safety licence or registration will be issued only after the unit has BIS certification.
- Existing units: must obtain BIS certification by 31 March 2027.
- After the deadline: units without certification face suspension of their licence or registration, and production stays stopped until they are certified.
- Central licensees: the requirement also covers units in Uttar Pradesh that hold a central FSSAI licence.
Why UP says it acted
The reports say that after FSSAI removed the ISI requirement in October 2024, the number of packaged water units in Uttar Pradesh rose to 968. The FSDA then reported the following results from its inspections over the past year:
| Item (as reported on 14 Oct 2026) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Packaged water units currently in UP | 968 |
| Units inspected in the past year | 811 |
| Samples tested | 660 |
| Samples found unsafe | 176 |
| Samples found substandard | 337 |
| Licences or registrations suspended | 152 |
| Central-licence units recommended for suspension | 55 |
Source: The Statesman, APN News and The Sandesh Wahak, 14 October 2026, reporting the FSDA order. No unit or brand was named in these reports.
The reports say unsafe samples contained microorganisms such as E. coli, coliform bacteria, yeast and mould, while substandard samples had calcium and magnesium below the required levels. Inspectors also reported missing source-water test reports, and gaps in filters, UV treatment and ozonation at some units, along with manual handling during production.
How this fits with the national rules
Nothing in the UP order replaces the FSSAI framework. A packaged water plant still has to meet FSSAI's high-risk category requirements (order of 29 November 2024: pre-licence inspection, annual risk-based inspection, and an annual third-party audit for central licensees) and the FSSAI Scheme of Testing in force since 1 January 2026 (monthly microbiological testing, source-water testing at FSSAI-notified NABL labs, and five years of records). We explain these in our guide to the high-risk category rules.
For a plant in Uttar Pradesh, BIS certification now sits on top of all of that. BIS product certification for packaged drinking water is granted against IS 14543, and for packaged natural mineral water against IS 13428. It involves an in-house lab, product testing, a factory inspection and ongoing surveillance by BIS.
What this means for water plant owners
- If your plant is in Uttar Pradesh and has no BIS licence: treat 31 March 2027 as a hard date. BIS certification takes time (application, lab set-up, inspection, sample testing), so starting early leaves room for corrections.
- If you are planning a new unit in UP: budget for BIS certification and an in-house lab before you apply for the FSSAI licence, since the licence will not be issued without it. Groundwater rules still apply too; see our CGWA NOC page.
- If your plant already holds BIS: keep the licence current and surveillance records ready, because inspectors will be checking for it.
- If your plant is outside UP (for example in Rajasthan): the reports describe the order as covering manufacturing units in Uttar Pradesh. BIS remains voluntary under the national FSSAI rules. Watch for similar steps by other state food safety departments, and confirm with the UP FSDA if you sell into the state.
- Everyone: the inspection findings point to the same basics: documented source-water tests, working UV and ozonation, hygienic filling, and regular lab testing. These matter under the FSSAI testing scheme whether or not your state requires BIS.
A full list of approvals for a new plant is in our packaged drinking water plant checklist, along with our pages on the FSSAI licence and Pollution Control Board consent.
How ClearPath Compliance India can help
We help packaged drinking water and mineral water plants with BIS product certification (IS 14543 and IS 13428), in-house lab set-up guidance, FSSAI licensing and high-risk category audits, and the FSSAI testing scheme records. If your unit is in Uttar Pradesh, we can map out the steps and documents you need before the 31 March 2027 deadline. Contact us with your plant location and current licences, and we will tell you what applies.
Need help with this for your plant? ClearPath handles BIS certification (IS 14543) for packaged drinking water end to end. Send us your plant details for a free requirement check.
This article is general information only, not legal advice. Rules and figures are as reported on the dates stated above; the full text of the UP FSDA order may contain further conditions. Check the order with the Uttar Pradesh FSDA and the current FSSAI and BIS notifications before acting. Brand names, where mentioned on this site, are trademarks of their owners and are used for identification only. This article is not sponsored or endorsed by any brand or company named.