Brussels, 13/12/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health today voted in favour of a Commission proposal to strengthen the legislation in force on natural mineral waters. The proposal establishes maximum concentrations for a series of substances of natural origin and reinforces the labelling provisions applicable to natural mineral waters. It is based on an opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food and WHO recommendations for drinking water and takes into account the most recent Codex Alimentarius international standard on "natural mineral waters".
The proposal contains a list of 16 substances, all of which are of natural origin, and sets maximum concentrations for 15 them that may pose long term health risks at high concentrations. Where a natural mineral water does not comply with the limits laid down by the proposal it will be required to undergo an authorised separation treatment. Mineral water producers will be allowed until 1 January 2006 to bring their product to full compliance. In the case of fluoride and nickel, for which no separation treatment has yet been assessed or authorised at EU level, the deadline is 1 January 2008. The proposal also establishes conditions for treatment of natural mineral waters and spring waters with ozone-enriched air, which enables some of the undesirable constituents to be eliminated by oxidation. Specific mention of this treatment will have to be made on the label in order to inform consumers. Furthermore, natural mineral waters containing more than 1.5 mg/l of fluoride shall mention on the label that the water is not suitable for regular consumption by babies and young children. These groups are particularly sensitive to the adverse effects of high doses of fluorine ingested over a long period of time. The labelling provisions apply as of 1 January 2004 and will be compulsory from 1 July 2004, although products packaged and labelled prior to 1 July 2004 will be allowed to be sold until stocks are exhausted.
Use of the term "natural mineral water" on bottled waters must be microbiologically wholesome water from an underground water table or deposit that has been recognised as a "natural mineral water" in its country of origin and that complies with all the requirements of the EU directive on natural mineral water. It can be distinguished from "spring water" bottled water that complies with some, but not all, of the requirements of the EU directive on natural mineral water and drinking water (for example, ordinary tap water).