The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Ahmedabad, has initiated action against a packaged drinking water manufacturer in Patan after uncovering the alleged misuse of the ISI certification mark during an enforcement raid conducted on May 29.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, BIS officials raided the premises of M/s Banas Beverages on Siddhpur Road, where the unit was allegedly producing and marketing packaged drinking water bearing the ISI mark without possessing a valid BIS licence. The certification mark is mandatory for packaged drinking water and can only be used by licensed manufacturers complying with prescribed quality standards.
During the inspection, officials seized nearly 3,100 cartons containing around 50,000 bottles of packaged drinking water in 500 ml and one-litre variants. The team also recovered stickers, labels and packaging material displaying the ISI mark, which were allegedly being used without authorisation.
BIS officials said proceedings have been initiated under Section 17 of the BIS Act, 2016, which prohibits the unauthorised use of the BIS Standard Mark. Violations of the provision are punishable with imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of not less than ₹2 lakh, or both. In cases of repeat offences, penalties can increase significantly, with fines ranging from ₹5 lakh to as much as ten times the value of the goods involved.
In a statement, BIS said certain manufacturers attempt to mislead consumers by affixing the ISI mark on products without obtaining the required certification. The bureau emphasised that it regularly conducts enforcement operations whenever credible information regarding misuse of the BIS Standard Mark is received, with the aim of safeguarding consumers and ensuring that only certified products reach the market.