New Delhi, Feb 11: Government is considering withdrawal of the quality-related ISI license from those companies which do not adhere to new standards fixed for packaged and bottled water and a decision whether this needs to be done will be taken shortly. "I am not ruling out anything, if we find there is no danger in the sale of bottled water already in the market, nothing will be done, but if we find even a minor threat to public health the license will be withdrawn till new standards are adhered to," consumer affairs secretary Wajahat Habibhullah told a news agency. He said a decision on the issue will be taken in a day or two, now that the new standards have been arrived at by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Even temporary cancellation of license will in effect mean that the water bottles which have already been downloaded in the market will have to be withdrawn.

Habibullah said experts in the BIS are considering a number of issues including whether after the notification of new standards any time gap is to be given to the companies for adapting them or they should be applicable with immediate effect.

"We have already arrived at the new standards, only question remaining is their immediate implementation or time gap for adaptation, answer to this hinges on hazards to public health," he said.

Provisionally, however, it is felt that there is no immediate danger and the pesticide traces found in the bottled water are within limits set by the World Health Organisation, he said.


Bureau Report