
Published by Onella Export on 6 October 2026
India, and Jamnagar in particular, supplies brass sanitary fittings to buyers around the world. But a fitting that sells well in one market may be unacceptable in another. Drinking water rules, lead limits and approval schemes vary widely, and importers who discover this after shipment face rejected containers and costly rework.
This guide explains the main requirements by destination, so you can brief your exporter correctly. For our product range, see our page as a brass sanitary fittings exporter in India. For MOQs, lead times and documents, read our guide to importing brass components from India.
Traditional free-cutting brass contains lead, which makes machining easy. Grades such as CuZn40Pb2 and CuZn39Pb3 are widely used for sanitary components. However, several markets now restrict lead in products that contact drinking water, so the alloy must match the destination and the application.
| Market | What buyers commonly require |
|---|---|
| United States | "Lead-free" products for drinking water under federal law, typically a weighted average lead content of no more than 0.25% on wetted surfaces, with certification to NSF/ANSI/CAN 372 and often NSF/ANSI/CAN 61 |
| European Union | Materials suitable for drinking water contact under the EU Drinking Water Directive framework, with national approval schemes in some countries; low-lead or approved alloys are increasingly expected |
| United Kingdom | Compliance with water fittings regulations, often demonstrated through WRAS approval; dezincification-resistant (DZR) brass is common for parts in contact with water |
| Middle East and GCC | National conformity and approval schemes vary by country; buyers often specify standards, finish quality and pressure testing |
| India and many other markets | Buyer or national standards for performance, dimensions and finish; requirements vary by project |
Rules change and differ by product type. Always confirm current requirements with your local regulator, certification body or compliance adviser before ordering.
In some water conditions, ordinary brass can lose zinc over time, a process called dezincification, leaving a weak, porous part. Dezincification-resistant (DZR) brass resists this and is often specified for fittings in contact with water in the UK, Europe and other regions with aggressive water.
Learn why so many buyers source from Jamnagar, India's brass parts hub.
Onella Export has manufactured and exported brass components from Jamnagar, Gujarat since 1991. It is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer with its own foundry producing around 5,000 kg of brass solid and hollow bars a day, plus in-house forging and machine turning. Customers are spread across India, the Middle East, the Far East, Europe and America.
Yes, if they meet US requirements for drinking water products, which generally means lead-free construction with a weighted average lead content of no more than 0.25% on wetted surfaces and relevant NSF/ANSI/CAN certification.
DZR is dezincification-resistant brass. It resists zinc loss in aggressive water and is often specified for water-contact fittings in the UK, Europe and other regions.
Leaded free-cutting grades such as CuZn40Pb2 and CuZn39Pb3 are common for sanitary components, while lead-free or DZR grades are used where market rules or the buyer require them.
BSP threads are common in India, the UK and the Middle East, while NPT is common in North America. Always confirm the standard in writing.
Confirm destination rules for drinking water contact, alloy and certification requirements, thread standard, finish, pressure testing and the documents the exporter will provide.
Contact Onella Export with your drawing, sample or specification, email kp@onellaexport.com or call +91 97276 77787.