India – Approved Two New Quality Orders on Potable Water Bottle and Insulated Flask, Bottle and Container

Vol. 1399 | 25 Mar 2024

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry of India has approved the Potable Water Bottles (Quality Control) Order 2024 and the Insulated Flask, Bottles and Containers for Domestic Use (Quality Control) Order 2024.

The existing Potable Water Bottles (Quality Control) Order 2023 and the Insulated Flask, Bottles and Containers for Domestic Use (Quality Control) Order 2023 are repealed under the new Orders.

Applicable products must comply with the Quality Order and carry the Standard Mark. The applicable standards mentioned in the Order of 2024 are the same as the previous Orders. The requirements are summarized as following:

Potable Water Bottles (Quality Control) Order 2024

All potable water bottles, manufactured from metal materials, must comply with IS 17803:2022.

There are some material specification requirements included in IS 17803:2022:

• Copper bottles: copper sheet shall comply with cu- ETP, cu-FRHC or cu-CATH-2 of IS 191
• Stainless steel bottles: The material used shall be of grade 304 as per IS 5522 or grade 316L as per IS 6911
• Aluminium bottles: if treated with anodic coating, aluminium shall comply with IS 1868. If coated fully or partially externally, it shall conform to certain test requirements of IS 9730.
• Polymer auxiliary closure: It shall be non-toxic, food grade and shall not deform under normal conditions of use under the requirements of IS 9845. The materials shall not contain bisphenol A (BPA).
• Silicone O-ring or washer: it shall be food grade, as per IS 3565.

Other performance tests included in IS 17803:2022 include the following:

• Capacity test
• Impact resistance test
• Test for shoulder strap and cord
• Leakage test
• Staining test
• Stability
• Load test.

Insulated Flask, Bottles and Containers for Domestic Use (Quality Control) Order 2024

All insulated flask, bottles or containers must comply with the following India standards:

• IS 17790:2022 Insulated Flask for Domestic Use
• Stainless steel used for inner container: The material used shall be grade 304 or higher grade as per IS 5522.
• Stainless steel used for outer container: The material used shall be N2 of IS 15997 or 304 series or higher according to IS 5522.
• Plastic casing: food grade, free from (BPA), minimum thickness of 1.5 mm.
• The limit for lead and cadmium of the coating shall comply with IS 9806
• The stopper of the inner container shall be of non-toxic and food grade material as per IS 9845
• Polymer auxiliary closure: It shall be non-toxic, food grade and shall not deform under normal conditions of use under the requirements of IS 9845. The materials shall not contain bisphenol A (BPA).
• Silicone O-ring or washer: it shall be food grade, as per IS 3565.

• IS 17526:2021 Domestic Stainless Steel Vacuum Flask/ Bottle
• Stainless steel used for inner container: The material used shall be grade 304 or higher grade as per IS 5522.
• Stainless steel used for outer container: The material used shall be N2 of IS 15997 or 304 series or higher according to IS 5522.
• The stopper of the inner container shall be of non-toxic and food grade material as per IS 9845
• Silicone O-ring or washer: it shall be food grade, as per IS 3565.
• Polymer auxiliary closure: It shall be non-toxic, food grade and shall not deform under normal conditions of use under the requirements of IS 9845. The materials shall not contain BPA.

• IS 17569:2021 Insulated Container for Food Storage
• Stainless steel used for inner, outer container and lid: The material used shall be grade 304 as per IS 5522 or N1, N2, N3 of IS 15997
• The limit for lead and cadmium of the coating shall comply with IS 9806
• Polymer container and lid: it shall be food grade and free from BPA
• Silicon gasket: it shall be food grade as per IS 3565
• Thermal insulating material: it shall be Polyurethane Foam (PUF) or any other similar thermal insulation material
• Internal utensil: it shall be made of stainless steel, N2 of IS 15997 or 304 series according to IS 5522

Other performance tests included in the standards include the following:

• Capacity test
• Impact resistance test
• Test of the handle or shoulder strap
• Leakage test
• Staining test
• Stability

Effective date: Both Orders will enter into force on 6 June 2024 for general enterprises, with the following delayed implementation dates for smaller enterprises: 

• 6 September 2024 for small enterprises
• 6 December 2024 for micro enterprises

If you have further questions, please contact Carl Tso (carl.tso@intertek.com).