New Delhi, Feb 19: In the face of controversy over high concentrations of pesticides in bottled water, Government has barred eight units including Bangalore operations of Bisleri International and Pepsico India Holding`s Baruch plant from using ISI mark. The crackdown on bottled drinking water companies comes within a month of an independent study revealing that most mineral water sold in India had very high level of pesticide residues and was not in conformity with the European norms.
The direction for withdrawal of ISI mark allotted to these eight units, which would practically make it impossible for them to operate in India, came from consumer affairs minister Sharad Yadav on grounds of not meeting norms set by Bureau of Indian Standards or flouting the existing regulations. Those barred from using the ISI mark under the minister`s directive are Kothari Beverages, Thana; ION Exchange, New Bombay; Pepsico India holding, Bharuch; Bisleri International, Bangalore; Vaibhav Aqua, Bombay; Sardul Mineral Water and Soda, Jamshedpur; Vaishali Mineral Water, Hazipur, and Surat Beverages, Dadra. "The minister has ordered withdrawal of ISI mark from bottled water produced in eight locations based on nationwide inspections carried out by the bureau, as a result these plants are debarred from producing and marketing the commodity," a top BIS official told a news agency.

Bureau Report