The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development administers all registrations for any bottled water product offered for sale in Michigan.

A. NAME OF PERMIT OR APPROVAL: Water Bottling Registration

B. STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

Food Law of 2000 as amended

C. APPLICABLE REGULATION: No administrative rules or regulations.

D. SUMMARY OF PERMIT/APPROVAL PROCESS:

 1.  Applicability (activities that require the permit)

Any persons offering for sale prepackaged bottled water must register the product prior to offering for sale and or selling the product in Michigan. The registration is for the type and brand of water offered or sold in Michigan. This includes water bottled in other states or countries.

 2.  Pre-Application Requirements

You must develop and have approval for your water source prior to your intent of bottling for drinking purposes and selling it in Michigan.

Source approval is obtained from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. For more information on the details please review the following, Bottled Water Registration FAQ and Guide

If your water source and/or bottling facility is located in Michigan you will also need a Food Establishment License.

 3.  Application Submission Requirements

• Prior to submission of the application source approval must be received from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. A copy of the source approval letter must accompany the application.

• The bottled water manufacturer is required to register each brand and type of water that will be sold in Michigan. A brand of water for example is: "Jack's Spring Water," another brand would be: "Jane's Spring Water." Types of water for example would be: "Joe's Spring Water," and another type could be: "Joe's Drinking Water." If a firm manufactured all four of those items, they would be required to register 4 products, at $25.00 each for a total of $100. (Please note that the size of the container does not matter.)

• An example label or a proposed label for each product to be sold in Michigan, must be included with your registration application.

If your firm manufacturers more than 100 brands of Bottled Water please review and follow: "Special Instructions for Firms with over 100 Brands of Bottled Water", on the Application for Registration of Water Bottler and Instructions. Firms that manufacture and register more than 100 brands or types of water are known as "Flat Fee Bottlers" and must meet some differing requirements for registration of the brands of water. They must still meet the same requirements for water source approval.

 4.  Procedures and Time-Frame for Obtaining Permit or Approval

• Complete Application for registration Application for Water Bottling Registration and Instructions

• Attach a copy of your source approval letter to the registration

• Attach copies of labels for each of the products you are registering for review or list as directed for Flat Fee Water Bottlers.

• Pay the appropriate fee, $25 per brand or type registered, or for "Flat Fee Bottlers" $2500.

• For out of state firms, typically registrations will be processed in 30 days upon reciept of a complete packet, including application, source approval letter, fees.

• For firms located in Michigan, the facilty must be licensed as a food establishment at the same time as they register their bottled water operations. Typically this will take 30 days from reciept of a completed food establishment license application for the initial inspection to be scheduled. An inspection is required prior to beginning operations.

 5.  Operational Requirements

Awareness, knowledge and compliance with the Michigan Food Law and the standards it adopts.

For a water bottler they should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the Michigan Food Law and the appropriate Codes of Federal Regulations (CFR) it adopts which applies to the operations of the firm they are; Title 21 CFR part 110, 129, and 165 at a minimum.

For firms located in Michigan, the facilty must be licensed as Food Establishment License.

 6.  Fees

$25 per brand or type of water registered, or for "Flat Fee Bottlers" $2500.

 7.  Appeal Process

If a firm is denied registration or licensure they may appeal that decision in accordance with the Michigan Adminstrative Procedures Act, 1969 PA 306.

 8.  Public Input Opportunities

Complaints or comments related to a water bottler or a water bottling firm may be filed with MDARD any time by contacting your regional office, Map of regional offices or 1-800-292-3939. The complaints are investigated and if they are validated through a finding of a violation then this would be considered in the decision-making process.

E. Contact Information:

Contact Us

Creation/Revision Date:

09/01/2010