Regulations
The bottled water industry is regulated on three levels: federal, state and trade association.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 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.The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) 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 such regulations.

Regulation Overview/Fact Sheet

Federal


State


Industry

 

 

 

Bottled Water Begins at the Source

The International Bottled Water Association illustrates the process its' members products follow from the source to the consumers' satisfaction. Federal, state and industry regulations guarantee safety and quality.

Step 1: Sources

  • Protected underground springs
  • Wells
  • Municipal supplies

Step 2: Multi-Barrier Practices for Safety:

  • Source protections
  • Source monitoring
  • Reverse osmosis
  • Ultraviolet light
  • Distillation
  • Micron filtration
  • Ozonation

Step 3: Federal Regulations

  • Good Manufacturing Practices
  • Bottled Water-Specific Good Manufacturing Practices
    • plant and equipment design and construction
    • sanitary facilities and operations
    • production and process controls
  • Quality Standards
  • Labeling Standards

Step 4: State Regulations

States also conduct inspections of bottled water sources and facilities.

Step 5: Industry Regulations

The International Bottled Water Association maintains its own set of standards that are stricter than the FDA's. All IBWA members are subject to an annual, unannounced plant inspection by a nationally recognized third-party organization.

At the end of this path, bottled water reaches its ultimate destination -- Consumers

Click here to view the Bottled Water Regulations Q&A.

© 1999 - 2004 IBWA