Revisions to Ceramic Ware Standards

• Definition Added: Defines “cooking appliance” as any ceramic ware intended to be heated by conventional thermal methods or microwaves.

• Limits Updated: Replaces Table I in the Thirteenth Schedule, setting new maximum permitted proportions for Lead and Cadmium release in large hollow-ware, small hollow-ware, cooking ware, and flat ware.

Updates to Natural Mineral Water (Regulation 360A & 26th Schedule)

• TDS Requirement: Establishes a minimum level of 50 mg/l for total dissolved solids (TDS).

• Labeling Requirements: The label must now include the words “natural mineral water” (or “carbonated…”), the amount of TDS (mg/l), mineral content details, pH value, location and nature of the source, and a fluoride warning if it exceeds 1.0 mg/l.

• Standard Updates: Updates the Twenty Sixth Schedule regarding chemical standards (including Arsenic, Barium, Fluoride, Nitrate, Lead, etc.) and bacteriological standards (e.g., E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa).

Updates to Packaged Drinking Water (25th Schedule)

• Chemical Limits: Amends maximum permitted proportions for:

• Aluminium (increased from 0.04 to 0.1 mg/l).

• Arsenic (increased from 0.001 to 0.005 mg/l).

• Chloroform (increased from 0.006 to 0.01 mg/l).

• Gross alpha (increased from 0.1 to 0.5 Bq/l).

• Bacteriological Standards: Replaces the bacteriological standard table, specifying methods and counts for Sulphite-reducing anaerobes, Enterococci, E. coli, Total coliform, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Exemption for Processing Water

• Adds a provision to Regulation 394 stating that minimum residue chlorine levels do not apply to water or steam used in food preparation/manufacturing if the water/steam undergoes further treatment (disinfection or equivalent process).