SankalpIS 14543 is the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specification for packaged drinking water, other than natural mineral water. It sets the quality, safety, and testing requirements the water is judged against in India. BIS certification against the standard is no longer compulsory: FSSAI notified the omission of the clauses that required it on 17 October 2024. The standard itself still applies, an FSSAI licence is still mandatory, and a pack that carries the ISI mark and a BIS licence number has been certified voluntarily against a defined national standard.
What IS 14543 is
IS 14543 is the Indian Standard that defines what “packaged drinking water” must be. It applies to drinking water that has been treated and sealed in bottles or other containers for sale, as distinct from natural mineral water, which is covered by a separate standard, IS 13428.
The standard sets requirements across several areas, described in general terms below:
- Source and treatment. The water is drawn from a permitted source and treated (for example by filtration, disinfection, and other approved processes) to make it fit for drinking.
- Quality parameters. The standard specifies limits for physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics, so the finished water is safe and consistent.
- Packaging and sealing. The water must be packed in clean, food-grade containers and sealed so the product is protected and its integrity is clear to the buyer.
- Testing and labelling. Batches are tested against the standard, and the pack must carry the declarations required under the standard and under Indian labelling and legal-metrology rules.
Because standards are revised over time, always confirm the current published version and its exact clauses with BIS before relying on them for compliance.
Why BIS certification matters
BIS certification for packaged drinking water used to be compulsory, and it is not any longer. On 17 October 2024, FSSAI gazette-notified the omission of sub-regulation 2.3.14, clauses 17 and 18, of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011. Those were the clauses that made BIS certification mandatory for packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water, so food business operators no longer require BIS certification to sell these products.
What has not changed is the standard. IS 14543 remains the Indian standard for packaged drinking water and the specification the product is judged against, and an FSSAI licence remains mandatory. Certification against the standard is now a voluntary quality signal, and many brands continue to hold a BIS licence for two reasons:
- Consumer trust. The ISI mark signals to buyers that the water has been made to a defined national standard and is subject to BIS oversight.
- Accountability. A BIS licence ties a product to a licensed manufacturer and to ongoing surveillance, so quality can be traced and enforced.
Oversight tightened on the food-safety side in the meantime. An FSSAI order of 29 November 2024 reclassified packaged drinking water and mineral water as a high-risk food category, bringing annual third-party audit and stricter inspection. A further FSSAI order of 17 December 2025 introduced a Scheme of Testing, in force from 1 January 2026, requiring monthly testing against the specified parameters, source-water testing, record keeping including batch-wise consumption of added minerals, hygiene controls, and immediate corrective action plus retesting on any microbiological non-compliance.
So a bottled water business today operates under FSSAI licensing and that testing regime, with BIS certification alongside it by choice. The parallel requirements for flavoured and carbonated lines are set out in the guide to FSSAI packaging rules for bottled beverages.
IS 14543 versus IS 13428
These two standards are often confused because both cover bottled water.
| Standard | Covers |
|---|---|
| IS 14543 | Packaged drinking water (treated water, not natural mineral water) |
| IS 13428 | Packaged natural mineral water (from a recognised natural source) |
Neither is under compulsory BIS certification any longer, following the omission notified on 17 October 2024, though both remain the applicable BIS standards for their product and can still be certified voluntarily. The key difference is the source and nature of the water: IS 14543 covers treated drinking water, while IS 13428 covers natural mineral water bottled at or near its source.
Where closures fit
IS 14543 expects the water to be packed in clean, food-grade containers and sealed so the product is protected and any interference is evident. The closure is the part that delivers that seal, so it is directly relevant to compliance.
For a packaged drinking water bottle, that points to a few closure needs:
- Food-grade sealing. The liner that seals against the bottle rim must be a food-grade material, so it does not affect the water. Brands often specify PVC-free liners.
- A reliable, hygienic seal. The closure must keep the water protected through storage and transport without leaking or admitting contamination.
- Tamper evidence. A closure that visibly breaks on first opening supports the protected, verifiable pack the standard expects, and it discourages refilling used bottles.
An aluminium ROPP (Roll-On Pilfer-Proof) closure fits these needs well: aluminium is inert and taint-free, the liner can be food-grade and PVC-free, and the integral pilfer band gives clear tamper evidence on first opening. That is why aluminium ROPP dominates the closure choice for packaged drinking water, with the practical comparison against plastic, sports and jar closures set out in types of water bottle caps.
Frequently asked questions
Is BIS certification mandatory for packaged drinking water in India?
No, not since 17 October 2024. On that date FSSAI notified the omission of the clauses in the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 that made BIS certification compulsory for packaged drinking water and packaged mineral water, so food business operators no longer require it to sell these products. An FSSAI licence is still mandatory and IS 14543 is still the applicable standard. BIS certification remains available as a voluntary quality signal, and many brands continue to hold a licence and show the ISI mark.
What is the difference between IS 14543 and IS 13428?
IS 14543 is the standard for packaged drinking water, meaning treated water, while IS 13428 is the standard for packaged natural mineral water taken from a recognised natural source. Neither now carries compulsory BIS certification, and the main difference is the source and nature of the water.
Does packaged drinking water need FSSAI as well as BIS?
An FSSAI licence is mandatory. A BIS licence is not, because the clauses that required BIS certification for packaged drinking water were omitted on 17 October 2024, though many brands still hold one by choice. Where a brand holds both, the two operate together, one covering the product standard and mark, the other covering food-business licensing and safety.
How does the bottle cap relate to IS 14543?
IS 14543 expects the water to be packed in clean, food-grade containers and sealed so the product is protected and any interference is clear. The closure delivers that seal, so a food-grade liner, a reliable hygienic seal, and tamper evidence on first opening all support compliance.
To see how a compliant seal is built into a closure, read our guide to the parts of a ROPP cap, or view R Vision’s Aqua Cap made for packaged drinking water. On the sourcing side, choosing caps for a water brand works through MOQ, neck fit and finish, and the rest of the closure library is on Learn.