James Monazard, the Minister of Commerce and Industry (MCI), reminds companies specializing in the treatment and distribution of drinking water that a circular was issued on March 2nd, 2026, regarding the regulations governing this sector.

To this end, a deadline of March 22, 2026, is granted to the operators concerned to comply with the requirements relating in particular to registration, adherence to health standards, and quality control of water intended for human consumption.

Circular : Requirements for Drinking Water Treatment and/or Distribution Companies

In general, all companies operating in the production or distribution of treated water are required to comply with the requirements of Articles 5 and 6 of the decree of March 11, 2020, which defines the regulations and control of the production and trade of foodstuffs.

Therefore, each party has until March 22, 2026, to implement the following provisions:

• All companies producing and/or selling treated water, including kiosks, must be registered with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MCI) and hold a valid Professional Identification Card (CIP);

• The production, storage, and transport of water must comply with Good Hygiene Practices (GHP). Trucks transporting packaged water (particularly in sachets) must be fully enclosed to protect the products from sunlight;

• Containers, especially sachets, must be made of inert, non-toxic materials approved for food contact, ensuring optimal heat resistance;

• Treated and packaged water must be labeled in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of the decree of March 11, 2020, establishing rules relating to the safety of goods and services, fair business practices, and consumer protection;

• No trace of pathogenic germs (Escherichia coli, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and fecal streptococci) will be tolerated. Regular bacteriological analyses must be carried out by an accredited laboratory. Certificates of analysis, valid for one month, must be presented during health inspections;

• Suppliers and kiosks are required to strictly apply the opinion MCI/JM/DCQPC/0045/09/24 of September 13, 2024;

• Suppliers must guarantee the rigorous disinfection of tanker trucks. They must also ensure that their customers' tanks and piping are cleaned and disinfected before any delivery;

  Suppliers must implement a traceability system and define an expiration date for kiosk sales. Kiosks must retain proof of transaction (valid receipts and invoices) guaranteeing product traceability;

  Additional devices (filters, UV lamps, ozonators) capable of neutralizing any bacterial presence must be installed in resale kiosks;

  Companies must employ qualified technical staff specializing in water treatment and quality, capable of detecting anomalies and implementing the necessary corrective measures.

  Inspectors from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry will be deployed to verify the quality of the distributed water as well as the sanitary operating conditions of the companies concerned. The Directorate relies on everyone's cooperation to guarantee the protection of public health and compliance with established standards.

  See also :

  https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46803-haiti-health-treated-drinking-water-alarming-findings-report.html

  Download the report on contaminated drinking water (PDF in French, 28 pages) : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/Etude-sur-la-qualite-des-eaux.pdf

  https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46786-haiti-health-drinking-water-crisis-in-haiti.html

  https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-46769-haiti-news-zapping.html

  https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-46754-icihaiti-health-more-than-92-of-treated-water-sachets-analyzed-do-not-meet-standards.html

  HL/ HaitiLibre