Potable Water Bottles Quality Control Order Notification for Micro and Small Enterprises

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has issued the Potable Water Bottles (Quality Control) Order, 2023, which will take effect six months from the date of notification. This order introduces specific compliance timelines for Small and Micro Enterprises as defined under the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006. According to this Order, potable water bottles made of copper, stainless steel, and aluminum must adhere to the relevant Indian Standard IS 17803:2022. For Small Enterprises, the order will come into effect nine months from the publication date, while for Micro Enterprises, it will be enforced twelve months from the publication date. Furthermore, the order exempts goods or articles manufactured domestically by enterprises registered under the "Udyam portal" of the Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, where the investment in plant and machinery or equipment does not exceed twenty-five lakhs rupees and the turnover does not exceed two crores rupees for the previous financial year, as certified by a Chartered Accountant. Any violation of the provisions of this Order will be punishable under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016. This notification aims to ensure the quality of potable water bottles while providing phased compliance timelines for small and micro enterprises to adapt to the new standards.