The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the trade association representing the bottled water industry. Founded in 1958, IBWA`s membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers.
Who Are Our Member Companies?
IBWA member companies range in size from the original family-owned and operated water bottlers to giant, diversified food corporations who have added bottled water to their product lines. From the manufacturers of equipment to small distributors, to the rapidly increasing number of international members, are all important segments of the bottled water industry and IBWA.
Why Do Companies Become IBWA Members?
IBWA plays an active role at all levels of state and federal government assisting in the development of stringent regulations for bottled water to ensure the greatest safety possible and high quality of bottled water products. IBWA has supported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state regulators/legislators in the development of strict regulations that will help guarantee bottled water`s quality.
IBWA has also developed a Model Code which has been used as model regulation in many states. Additionally, as a condition of membership, bottlers must submit to an annual, unannounced inspection administered by an independent internationally recognized third-party organization. This inspection assures that all IBWA bottler members meet federal, state and IBWA requirements for the production and sale of bottled water.
Industry Regulations - The IBWA Model Code
The bottled water industry routinely employs additional measures to further the protection of its product beginning with the source on through to the packaging. These requirements are laid out in the IBWA Model Code. One important measure is the annual facility inspection. International Bottled Water Association members are required to undergo an annual, unannounced plant inspection. These inspections are conducted by an outside third-party organization and assess compliance with all applicable regulations. IBWA currently contracts the services of the National Sanitation Foundation International, an independent, highly qualified technical auditing and compliance firm, to perform these comprehensive audits.
