U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)


 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Center for Food Safety and Nutrition (CFSAN)

FDA Consumer Magazine,
July - August 2002
"Bottled Water: Better Than Tap?"



Press Office
301-436-2335
www.fda.gov

Bottled water is a highly regulated product, subject to federal, state and industry standards. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA or the Act), regulates bottled water as a food product. This includes packaged water sold in smaller containers at retail outlets as well as larger five-gallon containers distributed to the home and office market. Like all food products except meat and poultry (which are regulated by USDA), bottled water is subject to FDA's extensive food safety and labeling requirements, which include:
  • Food adulteration and misbranding provisions;
  • Nutritional labeling provisions;
  • General Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs);
  • Bottled water GMPs;
  • Bottled water standard of identity; and
  • Bottled water standard of quality, which is as stringent as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) standards for public water supplies.

The bottled water industry is further regulated on two additional levels: state standards and trade association standards for International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) members. In addition, all bottled water products imported from countries outside of the U.S. must meet the standards established by their own country as well as comply with all of the U.S. regulations.

 

 

© 1999 - 2004 IBWA