| Bottled Water Regulations |
| The bottled water industry in the United States is regulated on three levels: federal, state and trade. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) bottled water regulations, coupled with state and industry standards, offer consumers assurance that the bottled water they purchase is stringently regulated, tested and of the highest quality. It’s important to note, though, that seltzer, soda water and tonic water are considered soft drinks, not bottled water; therefore, they are excluded from traditional bottled water regulations. At the present time, the FDA subjects bottled water to both general food regulations and specific bottled water regulations. To completely comply, bottled water companies must adhere to the FDA's Quality Standards, Good Manufacturing Practices and Standards of Identity (Labeling Regulations). Meeting Quality Standards and Good Manufacturing Practices ensures the safety of all bottled water from production to packaging to consumption. The FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices for food products include governing such areas as plant and ground maintenance, sanitary maintenance of buildings, fixtures and facilities like water supply, plumbing and sewage disposal. The FDA’s Good Manufacturing Practices in regard to bottled water specifically contain detailed regulations regarding plant construction and design, equipment design and construction, record keeping, etc. The FDA’s Standards of Identity – or Labeling Regulations – ensures your bottled water is labeled properly according to established standardized definitions for terms commonly found on bottled water labels like "artesian," "distilled," "drinking," "mineral," "purified," "sparkling" and "spring" In addition to the FDA's extensive regulatory requirements, the bottled water industry is subject to state regulatory requirements as well. A significant responsibility of the state’s role in regard to bottled water quality is in inspecting, sampling, analyzing and approving sources of bottled water. Under the federal Good Manufacturing Practices, only approved sources of water can be used to supply a bottling plant with bottled water. Another area in which some states have important responsibilities that complement federal regulation is the certification of bottled water testing laboratories. As with any food establishment, the states perform unannounced bottled water plant inspections, and some states perform annual bottled water plant inspections. Finally, there is third-party inspection of bottled water plants. As a condition of membership to the International Bottled Water Association, bottlers of bottled water must submit to an annual, unannounced plant inspection administered by an independent, internationally recognized third-party inspection organization. This inspection audits quality and testing records; reviews all areas of bottled water plant operation from source through finished product; and checks compliance with FDA Quality Standards, Good Manufacturing Practices and any state regulations. Despite current efforts, the International Bottled Water Association has been a long-standing proponent of additional federal regulations for bottled water and is active at all levels of the local, state and federal government assisting in the development of enhanced bottled water regulations. In fact, the International Bottled Water Association has established a quality assurance program, or a strict set of standards for bottled water manufacturers called the Model Code. The Model Code enforces tougher requirements than federal and state authorities on bottled water manufacturing. Home Page | FAQs | Glossary | Contact Us |