Exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters

In adopting the report by Mr Karl-Heinz FLORENZ (PPE, D), the European Parliament approved the proposal to amend the directive on the marketing of natural mineral waters with the following amendments: - the validity of the certification for waters from third countries should not exceed five years (instead of ten years); - natural mineral waters should not be subject to any treatment other than the separation of unwanted or volatile constituents, such as iron, manganese, sulphur and arsenic compounds, by means of filtration or decantation; - apart from the separation of unwanted constituents, only aeration was permitted in the treatment of water (including the use of ozone-enriched air, which should be carried out and controlled in accordance with the procedure laid down in Directive 80/777/EEC); - the processes used for treating water should be indicated on the labels of bottles; - limits for the concentration of natural constituents were established; - the description of natural mineral water was strengthened: the term "mineral water" would apply to a water which was drinkable in its natural state, bottled at the spring and subject to the rules and checks laid down in the Directive with regard to quality, in so far as it had not received any other treatment, apart from filtration, decantation or aeration, and its labelling clearly distinguished it from a natural mineral water. �