Maravi

Bore calls for certification of all bottled water

Bore calls for certification of all bottled water
By Oliver Sinyangwe
Sunday February 10, 2008 [05:00]

NATURAL Valley Limited marketing director Paul Bore has observed that non-compliance to standard policy in the water bottling industry is putting people’s health at risk. In an interview, Bore said of over 40 companies operating in the industry, only a few had a mark to show certification by the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS).

“The water bottling industry like any other is regulated by ZABS, and to certify that a particular company meets the prescribed standards, it should have a mark of ZC 388. However, of the over 40 bottling companies, very few have got this mark, meaning they are not certified by ZABS as having met prescribed standards,” he said.

Bore said it was important for ZABS to carry out on site inspections of bottling companies to ascertain suitability and hygienic standards.
“The advantage is that ZABS ensures that the stringent processes involved to produce quality mineral water are complied to, but as the situation is how safe is the health of consumers?” Bore wondered.

“Some companies are lying that they are producing mineral water when in fact it’s just tap water from the council. that is why some of it is very cheap because the investment is cheap and of poor standard.”
He said the sub-standard bottling companies were creating an uneven playing field because they were releasing cheaper products onto the market.

“If you go around checking the prices of the so-called ‘mineral water’ without ZABS certification, you find that they are extremely cheap because they have invested nothing and don’t meet prescribed standards,” said Bore.
When reached for a comment, ZABS public relations officer, Dingase Makumba said her institution was only mandated to set the standards.

Labels: BOTTLED WATER, ZABS

posted by MrK @ 8:43 PM