SGS Informs on China Updating National Labeling and Safety Standards for Packaged Drinking Water

Shanghai, China, February 28, 2015 --(PR.com)-- National food safety standard GB 19298-2014 – Packaged Drinking Water, was published on 24 December 2014 and will come into effect on 24 May 2015. The standard is applicable to all packaged water products destined for direct consumption, excluding natural mineral water products. GB 19298-2014 will replace GB 19298-2003 – Hygienic Standard of Bottled Water for Drinking and GB 17323-1998 – Bottled Purified Water for Drinking, harmonizing China’s regulation of packaged water products.

The standard for natural mineral water will be further revised by national food safety standard GB 8537 – Drinking Natural Mineral Water.

Labeling Requirements for Packaged Drinking Water

The GB 19298-2014 (http://www.nhfpc.gov.cn/sps/s3594/201501/4dea856522224be0a0374a6ad31d5a52.shtml) standard includes labeling requirements (4.1 and 4.2) that will come into effect on 1 January 2016.

There are two main raw water sources for packaged drinking water:

- Public water supply systems
- Non-public (namely surface or ground water) supply systems

There are clear requirements in the new standard that are applicable to packaged water products originating from both of these sources. Labels such as, “this product includes food additive for taste adjustment”, should be placed close to the product name on the label. This requirement applies to additives such as magnesium sulphate, zinc sulphate, calcium chloride, potassium chloride and other additives used during the production process.

Packaged Drinking Water - Product Naming

To meet the requirements of the new standard, the name given to a packaged drinking water product should be scientifically correct. It is not permissible to name a product by one, or several, ingredients, except for water. The misleading practice of using creative marketing descriptions for aquatic products will be regulated.

Requirements for Microorganisms in Bottled Water

The most important change of the standard concerns the requirements for microorganisms. While the product standard has added a requirement on pathogen microorganism Pseudomonas Aeruginosa as well as keeping those on coliform germs. It no longer includes requirements on total bacteria, mould and yeasts count, Staphylococcus Aureus, Salmonella or Shigella.

About SGS Food Safety Services

With food safety services located in over 60 countries worldwide, SGS is one of the leading providers of brand protection and risk management services to food producers, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and hospitality service providers. Maintaining integrity in the supply chain is at the core of the SGS vision and values. With a holistic approach to product and process safety and quality, the company’s renowned global network of field, laboratory and project management staff work with industry leaders to help reduce their risk of producing and/or selling defective and contaminated product (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Food/Transportation-Logistics-and-Trade/Testing-and-Analytical-Services/Food-Contaminant-Testing.aspx).

For further information on the company’s full range of services, please contact a SGS local office.

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.