FDA Provides New Standards For Bottled Water
By Jared A. Favole, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The Food and Drug Administration is pushing more
stringent testing standards for the $11 billion bottled water industry, saying
companies will have to eliminate any causes of fecal contamination in water
sources before they can bottle the water for sale.
The FDA's new rules also require manufacturers to test source water for any
forms of coliform, a group of bacteria that are mostly harmless, according to a
copy of the rules scheduled to be posted in the Federal Register on Friday. If
coliform is found, manufacturers must also test for fecal contamination. Water
that goes into bottles is already tested for coliform and fecal contamination,
but the water source itself wasn't previously required to be tested.
The new rules were proposed two years ago, and bring the FDA's standards
essentially in line with that of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has
federal oversight of tap water. The rules go into effect Dec. 1.
The FDA notes that 70% to 75% of bottled water comes from the ground, or the
same places where people receive tap water.
The new rule also says bottled water producers must keep records of source
water testing.
-By Jared A. Favole, Dow Jones Newswires; 202.862.9207; jared.favole@
dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
05-26-091738ET
Copyright (c) 2009 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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