7.0 

7-0

Production, equipment and packaging

7.1 All bottled water production including transporting, packaging and storage, shall be conducted under such conditions and controls as are necessary to minimise the potential for chemical contamination, undesirable bacterial or other microbiological growth, toxic formation, deterioration or contamination of the finished product.

7.2 Bottles must be mechanically filled and closed or in the case of hand filling and sealing of containers, appropriate protocols shall be implemented to ensure hygienic conditions are followed.

7.3 Fillers, piping, pumps and other process equipment used in the production of any bottled water may not be used for any other purposes.

7.4 All equipment shall be of sanitary design and shall be constructed of non-toxic, non-absorbent material, which will not impart flavour, colour or odour to the bottled water. All equipment shall be installed and maintained to facilitate the cleaning of equipment and of all adjacent spaces. All material used in the design, construction and repair of water transmission or production piping in bottled water facility must be lead-free. All equipment must meet or exceed the Standards for food production and contact.

7.5 Storage tanks used for bottled water production must be—

• (i)tightly closed to exclude all foreign matter and vented through effective air filters;
• (ii)protected from cross-contamination and equipped with backflow prevention devices approved by the Director;
• (iii)equipped with linings or coatings conforming to the listing of acceptable linings to be added and a requirement for food grade systems be added as well;
• (iv)used only for water and not for storage of any other product.

7.6 There shall be no cross connection between finished product water lines and any other water pipelines.

7.7 Hoppers shall be provided with covers.

7.8 Fillers shall have the inlet designed so as to prevent the entrance of condensation. Where necessary, filling valves shall be equipped with a condensation-diverting apron.

7.9 Containers and packaging shall, meet the following requirements—

• (i)packaging processes and materials shall not transmit contaminants or objectionable, toxic or deleterious substances to the bottled water;
• (ii)only sanitary, non-toxic lubricants shall be used on container contact surfaces;
• (iii)bottles shall be provided with a tamper evident seal or cap;
• (iv)screw, snap and crown caps shall be new;
• (v)screw, snap and crown caps must be sanitised unless protected and received clean and free from bacterial contamination;
• (vi)when sanitised bottles cannot be filled immediately, they shall be closed or covered immediately when recovered from packages. When they are to be filled, such closed bottles shall be opened, re-sanitised, filled and closed immediately in one continuous operation;
• (vii)all cleaned bottles shall be protected from dust, dirt, insects, debris and any other form of contamination;
• (viii)each container of bottled drinking water shall be identified by a clear and conspicuous production code indicating in English, the day, month and year of production. The production code shall identify a particular batch or segment of a continuous production run. The plant shall record and maintain information as to the kind of product, volume produced, date produced, production code used and the distribution of the finished product to wholesale and retail outlets to which the plant directly supplies product;
• (ix)multiuse containers shall have the production date code affixed to the primary container. Cap coding is not acceptable unless the dispenser system retains the cap with the multiuse container, after opening;
• (x)the plant shall have on file a written recall plan which shall detail procedures for retail of any particular batch as identified by the production code.

7.10 Transporting of water

• (i)bulk water shall refer to water intended for potable uses which is transported via tanker truck or equivalent means from one area to another for the purpose of treatment, packaging and human consumption;
• (ii)bulk water sources shall be approved by the appropriate authority having local jurisdiction and maintained for sanitary quality at all times. Bulk water shall be loaded, transported and unloaded in a sanitary manner to ensure the overall safety and quality of the finished drinking water product;
• (iii)bulk water tankers, storage tanks, hoses, pumps and connections used for loading, transporting and unloading of bulk water shall be constructed of materials that are FDA food-grade and smooth non-absorbent and easily cleaned such as stainless steel (300 series);
• (iv)tankers used must be solely dedicated to the hauling of bulk water of bottling purposes. Tankers shall be cleaned, sanitised and inspected internally for tank integrity on routine basis;
• (v)tankers that have been previously used to haul non-food commodities shall not be used to haul drinking water for human consumption;
• (vi)tankers used for transporting of potable water shall be properly secured with manhole cover gaskets and safety seals;
• (vii)connection hoses, shall be food grade hoses and pumps used for the loading and unloading of bulk water shall be properly maintained and stored to prevent contamination. When not in use, pumps, hoses, connections and fittings shall be properly capped, securely stored and protected from possible contamination;
• (viii)representative samples shall be made from shipments of bulk water for the analyses of coliform bacteria and Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC). The minimum frequency of sampling should be one sample from each tanker on a weekly basis;
• (ix)records shall be maintained for a minimum of 2 years that include but are not limited to—
  • (i)Name of the transporter and/or driver;
  • (ii)Tanker number;
  • (iii)Date of shipment;
  • (iv)Vendor and location of the source water;
  • (v)Name of receiver and the location to which the water was shipped;
  • (vi)Date of delivery;
  • (vii)Date of tanker cleaning and sanitisation (includes name of operator);
  • (viii)The concentration of the disinfectant residual (if required by the local state agency having jurisdiction) at the time of loading and unloading;
  • (ix)Results of coliform bacteria and HPC testing performed on representative samples taken to be performed at least once per week.