Exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters

The purpose of this Commission proposal is to rationalize Directive 80/777/EEC by: - updating certain specific provisions in order to take account of scientific and technical progress achieved in the 14 years since the directive was adopted; - bringing certain provisions of the directive into line with the general provisions of Community legislation on foodstuffs. The main changes made by the Commission aim to: - ensure that natural mineral waters do not present a risk to public health (by setting limits agreed at Community level for concentrations of certain constituents and adopting methods of analysis for checking that mineral water is not contaminated); - clarify that natural mineral water may be treated with ozone under strictly defined conditions as regards possible health risks; - require that the composition of the water be stated on the label; - increase the duration of the validity of certification of mineral waters imported from third countries to ten years. The Commission also proposes to: - include a specific obligation in the directive to consult the Scientific Committee for Food before adopting measures which may affect public health; - introduce a safeguard clause permitting rapid decisions at Community level in cases of serious contamination of natural mineral waters; - repeal the provision allowing Member States to prevent imports of natural mineral waters from third countries in application of non-harmonized national legislation.�