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{
    "id": 111697,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/111697/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 225,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Kosgey",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Industrialization",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 177,
        "legal_name": "Henry Kiprono Kosgey",
        "slug": "henry-kosgey"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Temporary Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to reply. (a) The decision to increase the threshold of permissible fluoride level for mineral water from 1.5ppm to 4.0ppm was based on WHO guidelines which do not indicate the maximum levels of fluoride for mineral water directly obtained from natural or drilled sources from underground water bearing strata, and without being subjected to any treatment other than filtration and decantation process. The CODEX standard, CS 108:1981 (amended in 2001) for Natural Mineral Waters, provides a threshold of 2mg/l fluoride for purposes of labeling and does not indicate the maximum limit of fluoride in water. The maximum level of 4.0mg/l was, therefore, adopted based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Standards for water and the mean value of fluoride detected in mineral waters sampled within Kenya. (b) KEBS has, so far, certified 73 firms as per attached list, and issued them with permits to apply the standard mark on their mineral water products. Only two firms out of the 73 exceed the WHO standards of 1.5ppm with levels of 1.8ppm. (c) Laboratory tests conducted during the initial testing of water, therefore, granting of the permits, and subsequent market surveillance are sufficient confirmation that the waters sampled are within acceptable PH range for mineral water (PH 6.5 - 8.5) and carbonated water (PH 4.0). (d) The CODEX standards requires all mineral water manufacturers to place a warning on all their packaged products with a declaration that the product is not suitable for infants and children under the age of seven years when packaging mineral water which exceeds the threshold of 1.5ppm. Kenya Bureau of Standards ensures that this is adhered to when carrying out initial tests on water and during surveillance campaigns. At the moment, we have over 100 firms now bottling water. Due to the increased sourcing of water, we are revising and consulting. We have set up a consultative committee comprising 11 Government organizations to further look at this sector which is growing. This is the list of firms which have been sampled showing PH levels. This is the list of firms which have been sampled to show the fluoride levels. They are 73 firms."
}