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The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Wales) Regulations 2015

Type Welsh-Statutory-Instrument

Publication 2015-11-04

Last updated 2023-10-01

State In force

Jurisdiction Wales

Department King's Printer of Acts of Parliament

Source legislation.gov.uk

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Made: 4 November 2015

Laid before the National Assembly for Wales: 6 November 2015

Coming into force: 28 November 2015

The Welsh Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 6(4), 16(1), 17(1), 26(1) and (3), 31 and 48(1) of the Food Safety Act 1990 and paragraph 1A of Schedule 2 to the European Communities Act 1972.

The Welsh Ministers have had regard to the relevant advice given by the Food Standards Agency in accordance with section 48(4A) of the Food Safety Act 1990.

There has been consultation during the preparation and evaluation of the following Regulations, as required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety.

These Regulations make provision for a purpose mentioned in section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and it appears to the Welsh Ministers that it is expedient for the references in these Regulations to the Annexes to the EU Instruments listed in regulation 2(3) to be construed as references to those Annexes as amended from time to time.

PART 1 — Introductory

Title, commencement and application

1

(1) The title of these Regulations is the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Wales) Regulations 2015.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 28 November 2015 and apply in relation to Wales.

Interpretation

2

(1) In these Regulations—

“the Act” (“y Ddeddf”) means the Food Safety Act 1990;

“advertisement” (“hysbyseb”) means a representation in any form in connection with a trade or business in order to promote the supply of goods, and “advertise” (“hysbysebu”) is to be construed accordingly;

“the Agency” (“yr Asiantaeth”) means the Food Standards Agency;

“bottle” (“potel”) where used as a noun, means a closed container of any kind in which water is sold for drinking by humans or from which water sold for drinking by humans is derived, and “bottle” (“potelu”), where used as a verb, and cognate expressions, are to be construed accordingly;

“Directive 98/83” (“Cyfarwyddeb 98/83”) means Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption ;

“Directive 2009/54” (“Cyfarwyddeb 2009/54”) means Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters ;

“Directive 2013/51” (“Cyfarwyddeb 2013/51”) means Council Directive 2013/51/EURATOM laying down requirements for the protection of the health of the general public with regard to radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption ;

“drinking water” (“dŵr yfed”) means water which is intended for sale for drinking by humans other than—natural mineral water, orwater intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language;

“effervescent natural mineral water” (“dŵr mwynol naturiol eferw”) means natural mineral water which, at source or after bottling, gives off carbon dioxide spontaneously and in a clearly visible manner under normal conditions of temperature and pressure;

“fluoride removal treatment” (“triniaeth tynnu fflworid”) has the meaning given in regulation 27A;

“label” (“label”) means any tag, brand, mark, pictorial or other descriptive matter, which is written, printed, stencilled, marked, embossed or impressed on, or attached to the bottle of water, and “labelled” (“wedi'i labelu”) and “labelling” (“labelu”) are to be construed accordingly;

“natural mineral water” (“dŵr mwynol naturiol”) means water which—is microbiologically wholesome within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2009/54,originates in an underground water table or deposit and emerges from a spring tapped at one or more natural or bore exits,can be clearly distinguished from drinking water on account of the following characteristics having been preserved intact because of the underground origin of the water, which has been protected from all risk of pollution—its nature, which is characterised by its mineral content, trace elements or other constituents and, where appropriate, by certain effects, andits original purity, andis for the time being recognised pursuant to and in accordance with regulation 4;

“ozone-enriched air treatment” (“triniaeth aer a gyfoethogir ag osôn”) has the meaning given in regulation 27B;

“parameter” (“paramedr”) means a property, element, organism or substance listed in the second column of any table in Part 2, Part 3 or Part 4 of Schedule 7;

“Regulation 115/2010” (“Rheoliad 115/2010”) means Commission Regulation (EU) No 115/2010 laying down the conditions for use of activated alumina for the removal of fluoride from natural mineral waters and spring waters; and

“relevant bottled water legislation” (“deddfwriaeth berthnasol ynghylch dŵr wedi'i botelu”) means— in relation to England, the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2007;in relation to Northern Ireland, the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2015;in relation to Scotland, the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2007;

“sell” (“gwerthu”) includes possess for sale and offer, expose or advertise for sale, and “sale” (“gwerthiant”) is to be construed accordingly.

“third country” (“trydedd wlad”) means any country other than the United Kingdom, and includes— the Bailiwick of Guernsey;the Bailiwick of Jersey;the Isle of Man.

(2) Expressions used in these Regulations that are also used in Directive 98/83, Directive 2009/54, Regulation 115/2010 or Directive 2013/51 have the same meaning in these Regulations as they have in those Directives or that Regulation.

(3) References to the Annexes to Directive 98/83, ... Directive 2009/54, Regulation 115/2010 and Directive 2013/51 are references to those Annexes as amended from time to time.

(4) Any reference in these Regulations to the labelling of a bottle includes labelling done before any water is bottled and labelling after bottling.

Exemptions

3

(1) These Regulations do not apply to any water which—

(a) is a medicinal product within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012;

(b) is a natural mineral water which is used at source for curative purposes in thermal or hydromineral establishments;

(d) is a natural mineral water intended for—

(i) movement into Northern Ireland; or

(ii) export to a third country.

(2) These Regulations do not apply to packaged ice portions intended for use in cooling food.

PART 2 — Natural mineral water

Recognition as natural mineral water

4

(1) Natural mineral water may only be sold as natural mineral water if it is recognised in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) Water is recognised as natural mineral water where—

(a) in the case of water extracted from the ground in Wales, a food authority grants recognition in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 1;

(b) in the case of water extracted from the ground in another part of the United Kingdom, the responsible authority of that part of the United Kingdom recognises it under the relevant bottled water legislation;

(d) in the case of water extracted from the ground in a third country—

(i) the Agency grants recognition in accordance with Part 2 of Schedule 1;

(ii) it has equivalent recognition in England granted by the Secretary of State in accordance with regulation 4(1)(d)(i) of, and Part 2 of Schedule 3 to, the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2007;

(iii) it has equivalent recognition in Scotland granted by Food Standards Scotland in accordance with regulation 4(1)(d)(i) of, and Part 2 of Schedule 3 to, the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2007;

(iv) it has equivalent recognition in Northern Ireland granted by the Agency in accordance with regulation 4(2)(d)(i) of, and Part 2 of Schedule 1 to, the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.

(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Declining to grant or withdrawing recognition

5

(1) Where, in relation to any water that has been recognised under regulation 4(2)(a) or 4(2)(d)(i), it is found that—

(a) by analysis in accordance with Part 3 of Schedule 1, the requirements of paragraph 10(c) of that Part are not met;

(b) the requirements of Schedule 4 are not met; or

(c) the content of the water is not in accordance with paragraph 1(c) of Part 1 or, as the case may be, paragraph 5(c) of Part 2 of Schedule 1,

the food authority or, as the case may be, the Agency may withdraw that recognition until such time as the requirements concerned are met.

(2) Where the food authority or, as the case may be, the Agency declines to grant or withdraws recognition of a water, the person who exploits or wishes to exploit the spring from which that water emerges or, if different, the person who owns the land on which that spring is situated, may within 6 months of being notified of the decision, appeal against it to a person appointed for the purpose by the Agency.

(3) The appointed person must consider the appeal and any representations made by the food authority or the Agency, as appropriate, and within 3 months report in writing with a recommended course of action to the Agency.

(4) The Agency must either—

(a) confirm the decision together with the reasons; or

(b) direct the food authority to grant or restore, or itself restore, as appropriate, recognition of the water in question.

(5) Where a food authority is directed by the Agency under paragraph (4)(b) to grant or restore recognition, it must immediately comply with that direction.

Application to withdraw recognition

6

A person who exploits a spring from which water is extracted which is recognised as natural mineral water in accordance with regulation 4(2)(a) or 4(2)(d)(i), may apply to the food authority or the Agency, as appropriate, to have that recognition withdrawn.

Notification of changes

7

A food authority must immediately notify the Agency if—

(a) it grants, restores or withdraws recognition of a natural mineral water; or

(b) it is notified of any change to the trade description of a natural mineral water or to the name of a spring from which natural mineral water has been extracted.

Exploitation of natural mineral water springs

8

(1) No person may exploit a spring for the purpose of marketing the water from it as natural mineral water unless—

(a) the water extracted from that spring is natural mineral water;

(b) the food authority of the area in which the spring is located has given permission for that spring to be exploited; and

(2) Where it is found during exploitation that natural mineral water is polluted and that bottling of the water would contravene paragraphs 6, 7 or 8 of Schedule 4, no person may exploit the spring from which the water is extracted until the cause of the pollution is eradicated and the bottling of the water would comply with those paragraphs.

Treatments and additions for natural mineral water

9

(1) No person may subject natural mineral water in its state at source to—

(a) any treatment other than—

(i) the separation of its unstable elements, such as iron and sulphur compounds, by filtration or decanting, whether or not preceded by oxygenation, in so far as the treatment does not alter the composition of the water as regards the essential constituents which give it its properties;

(ii) the total or partial elimination of free carbon dioxide by exclusively physical methods;

(iii) a fluoride removal treatment which is authorised in accordance with Schedule 2; or

(iv) an ozone-enriched air oxidation treatment which is authorised in accordance with Schedule 3;

(b) any addition other than the introduction or the re-introduction of carbon dioxide to produce effervescent natural mineral water; or

(c) any disinfection treatment by whatever means, or, subject to paragraph (1)(b), the addition of bacteriostatic elements or any other treatment likely to change the viable colony count of the natural mineral water.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not prevent the use of natural mineral water in the manufacture of soft drinks.

Bottling of natural mineral water

10

(1) No person may bottle natural mineral water—

(a) unless the requirements of Schedule 4 are met;

(b) in a container other than a container which is fitted with closures designed to avoid any possibility of adulteration or contamination; and

(c) which, at the time of bottling, contains any substance listed in Part 1 of Schedule 5 at a level which exceeds the maximum limit specified in relation to that substance in that Schedule.

(2) The methods used for detection of the substances listed in Part 1 of Schedule 5 must conform to the performance characteristics for analysis specified in Part 2 of Schedule 5.

Labelling of natural mineral water

11

(1) No person may bottle natural mineral water and label it with—

(a) a trade description which includes the name of a locality, hamlet or other place, unless that trade description refers to a natural mineral water, the spring of which is exploited at the place indicated by that name, and is not misleading as regards the place of exploitation of the spring;

(b) a trade description which is different from the name of the spring or the place of its exploitation, unless the name of the spring or the place of exploitation is also labelled on the bottle, using letters at least one and a half times the height and width of the largest of the letters used for that trade description;

(c) any indication, designation, trade mark, brand name, picture or other sign, whether figurative or not, the use of which suggests a characteristic which the water does not possess, in particular as regards its origin, the date of authorisation to exploit the spring, the results of analyses or any similar references to guarantees of authenticity;

(d) any indication other than those specified in sub-paragraphs (f) and (g), attributing to the natural mineral water properties relating to the prevention, treatment or cure of a human illness;

(e) any indication listed in the first column of the Table in Schedule 6, except where the natural mineral water meets the criterion so listed and corresponds to the indication;

(f) the indication “may be diuretic”, “gall fod yn ddiwretig”, or “may be laxative”, “gall fod yn garthydd”, or the equivalent in any other language, unless the natural mineral water has been assessed as possessing the property attributed by the indication in accordance with physico-chemical analysis and pharmacological, physiological or clinical examination as appropriate; or

(g) the indication “stimulates digestion”, “mae'n ysgogi treuliad”, or “may facilitate the hepato-biliary functions”, “gall hyrwyddo'r swyddogaethau hepato-bustlog”, or the equivalent in any other language, unless the natural mineral water has been assessed as possessing the property attributed by the indication in accordance with the physico-chemical analysis and pharmacological, physiological and clinical examination.

(2) No person may bottle natural mineral water and label it with a sales description other than—

(a) “natural mineral water”; or

(b) in the case of an effervescent natural mineral water, one of the following, as appropriate—

(i) “naturally carbonated natural mineral water” to describe water whose content of carbon dioxide from the spring after decanting, if any, and bottling is the same as at source, taking into account where appropriate, the reintroduction of a quantity of carbon dioxide from the same water table or deposit equivalent to that released in the course of those operations and subject to the usual technical tolerances;

(ii) “natural mineral water fortified with gas from the spring” to describe water whose content of carbon dioxide from the same water table or the same deposit after decanting, if any, and bottling is greater than that established at source; or

(iii) “carbonated natural mineral water” to describe water to which has been added carbon dioxide of an origin other than the water table or deposit from which the water comes;

(c) nothing in sub-paragraph (a) prevents a person from using the words “dŵr mwynol naturiol” in addition to the words “natural mineral water”;

(d) nothing in sub-paragraph (b) prevents the use of the words “dŵr mwynol naturiol wedi'i garboneiddio'n naturiol” in addition to “naturally carbonated natural mineral water”, “dŵr mwynol naturiol wedi'i gryfhau â nwy o'r ffynnon” in addition to “natural mineral water fortified with gas from the spring”, “dŵr mwynol naturiol wedi'i garboneiddio” in addition to “carbonated natural mineral water”; and

(e) nothing in sub-paragraphs (a), (b), (c) or (d) prevents the use of equivalent words in any other language in addition to Welsh and English.

(3) No person may bottle natural mineral water unless the bottle is labelled with—

(a) a statement of analytical composition indicating the characteristic constituents of the water;

(b) the name of the place where the spring is exploited and the name of the spring;

(c) where the water has undergone the treatment of total or partial elimination of free carbon dioxide by exclusively physical methods, the indication “fully de-carbonated” or “partially de-carbonated”, as appropriate;

(d) where the water has undergone an ozone-enriched air treatment, the words “water subjected to an authorised ozone-enriched air oxidation technique”, which must appear in proximity to the analytical composition of characteristic constituents;

(e) where its fluoride concentration exceeds 1.5 mg/l—

(i) the words “contains more than 1.5 mg/l of fluoride; not suitable for regular consumption by infants and children under 7 years of age”, which must appear in immediate proximity to the trade name and in clearly visible characters; and

(ii) the actual fluoride content in relation to the physico-chemical composition, which must be included within the statement referred to in paragraph (3)(a);

(f) nothing in sub-paragraph (c) prevents the use of the indication “cwbl ddad-garbonedig” in addition to “fully de-carbonated”, or “rhannol ddad-garbonedig” in addition to “partially de-carbonated”;

(g) nothing in sub-paragraph (d) prevents the use of the words “dŵr wedi ei drin â thechneg awdurdodedig i'w ocsideiddio ag aer a gyfoethogir ag osôn” in addition to “water subjected to an authorised ozone-enriched air oxidation technique”;

(h) nothing in sub-paragraph (e)(i) prevents the use of the words “yn cynnwys mwy na 1.5 mg/l o fflworid; nid yw'n addas i'w yfed yn rheolaidd gan blant bach a phlant o dan 7 oed” in addition to “contains more than 1.5 mg/l of fluoride; not suitable for regular consumption by infants and children under 7 years of age”; and

(i) nothing in sub-paragraphs (c), (d), (e)(i), (f), (g) and (h) prevents the use of equivalent words in any other language in addition to Welsh and English.

Advertising of natural mineral water

12

(1) Where, in accordance with regulation 11(1)(b) a bottle containing natural mineral water is required to be labelled with the name of the spring or the place of its exploitation—

(a) the same requirement also applies to any written advertisement for that natural mineral water; and

(b) in any other advertisement, at least equivalent prominence must be given to the place of exploitation or the name of the spring as is given to the trade description.

(2) No person may advertise natural mineral water in contravention of paragraph (1).

(3) No person may advertise natural mineral water under any indication, designation, trade mark, brand name, picture or other sign, whether figurative or not, the use of which suggests a characteristic which the water does not possess, in particular as regards its origin, the date of authorisation to exploit it, the results of analyses or any similar references to guarantees of authenticity.

Sale of natural mineral water

13

(1) No person may sell water which is bottled and labelled “natural mineral water”, “dŵr mwynol naturiol”, or its equivalent in any other language, unless that water is natural mineral water recognised in accordance with regulation 4(2).

(2) No person may sell bottled natural mineral water if it—

(a) has been extracted from a spring—

(i) in Wales, which has been exploited in contravention of regulation 8; or

(ii) otherwise than in Wales, which has been exploited otherwise than in compliance with the requirements as described at regulation 8(1)(a) and (c) and regulation 8(2), or if the responsible authority of the area in which the spring is exploited has not given permission for the spring to be so exploited;

(b) has been subjected—

(i) in Wales, to any treatment or addition in contravention of regulation 9; or

(ii) otherwise than in Wales, to—

(aa) a treatment which is not described at regulation 9(1)(a)(i), 9(1)(a)(ii), a fluoride removal treatment, or an ozone-enriched air oxidation treatment;

(bb) any addition other than an addition described in regulation 9(1)(b); or

(cc) any disinfection treatment, the addition of bacteriostatic elements, or any other treatment likely to change the viable colony count of the natural mineral water;

(i) in Wales, in contravention of regulation 10; or

(ii) otherwise than in Wales, in contravention of the requirements as described in regulation 10;

(d) is labelled—

(i) in Wales, in contravention of regulation 11; or

(ii) otherwise than in Wales, in contravention of the requirements as described in regulation 11; or

(e) is advertised in contravention of regulation 12.

(3) No person may sell bottled natural mineral water—

(a) which contains—

(i) parasites or pathogenic micro-organisms;

(ii) Escherichia coli or other coliforms and faecal streptococci in any 250ml sample examined;

(iii) sporulated sulphite-reducing anaerobes in any 50ml sample examined; or

(iv) Pseudomonas aeruginosa in any 250ml sample examined;

(b) where the total colony count of the water at the source from which that water was taken does not comply with paragraph 7 of Schedule 4;

(c) where the revivable total colony count of that water is in excess of that which would result from the normal increase in the bacterial count which it had at source; or

(d) where that water contains any organoleptic defect.

(4) No person may sell natural mineral water from the same spring under more than one trade description.

PART 3 — Water intended to be sold as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon”

Exploitation of springs and bottling of water intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon”

14

(1) No person may bottle water intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, unless—

(a) the water has been extracted from a spring and is bottled at source;

(b) the water is intended for human consumption in its natural state;

(d) the water meets the requirements of Schedule 7.

(2) Where it is found during exploitation that water from a spring is polluted and that bottling of the water would contravene paragraphs 6, 7 or 8 of Schedule 4, no person may exploit the spring from which the water is extracted until the cause of the pollution is eradicated and the bottling of the water would comply with those paragraphs.

Treatments and additions for water intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon”

15

(1) No person may subject water intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, in its state at source to—

(a) any treatment, other than—

(i) the separation of its unstable elements, such as iron and sulphur compounds, by filtration or decanting, whether or not preceded by oxygenation, in so far as the treatment does not alter the composition of the water as regards the essential constituents which give it its properties;

(ii) the total or partial elimination of free carbon dioxide by exclusively physical methods;

(iii) a fluoride removal treatment which is authorised in accordance with Schedule 2; or

(iv) an ozone-enriched air treatment which is authorised in accordance with Schedule 3; or

(b) any addition other than the introduction or the re-introduction of carbon dioxide; or

(c) any disinfection treatment by whatever means, or, subject to sub-paragraph (b), the addition of bacteriostatic elements, or any other treatment likely to change the viable colony count of the water.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not prevent the use of water intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language in the manufacture of soft drinks.

Labelling of water as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon”

16

(1) No person may label a bottle of water as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, unless the water contained in it—

(a) meets the requirements of regulation 14(1); and

(b) if treated, has undergone a treatment or addition permitted under regulation 15.

(2) If a bottle of water is labelled as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, no person may label that bottle with a trade description which—

(a) includes the name of a locality, hamlet or other place, unless that trade description refers to water, the spring of which is exploited at the place indicated by that name, and is not misleading as regards the place of exploitation of the spring; or

(b) is different from the name of the spring or the place of its exploitation unless the name of the spring or the place of exploitation is also labelled on the bottle, using letters at least one and a half times the height and width of the largest of the letters used for that trade description.

(3) No person may label a bottle of water as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, unless the bottle is also labelled with—

(a) the name of the place where the spring is exploited;

(b) the name of the spring;

(c) where the water has undergone an ozone-enriched air treatment, the words “water subjected to an authorised ozone-enriched air oxidation technique”, which must appear in proximity to the particulars referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b);

(d) nothing in sub-paragraph (c) prevents the use of the words “dŵr wedi ei drin â thechneg awdurdodedig i'w ocsideiddio ag aer a gyfoethogir ag osôn” in addition to “water subjected to an authorised ozone-enriched air oxidation technique”; and

(e) nothing in sub-paragraphs (c) or (d) prevents the use of equivalent words in any other language in addition to Welsh and English.

Advertising of water as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon”

17

(1) Where, in accordance with regulation 16(2)(b), a bottle of water is required to be labelled with the name of the spring or its place of exploitation in addition to a trade description—

(a) the same requirement also applies to any written advertisement for that water; and

(b) in any other advertisement, at least equivalent prominence must be given to the place of exploitation or the name of the spring as is given to the trade description.

(2) No person may advertise a bottle of water as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, in contravention of paragraph (1).

(3) No person may advertise water intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language under—

(a) a designation, proprietary name, trade mark, brand name, illustration or other sign, whether emblematic or not, the use of which is liable to cause confusion of the water with a natural mineral water, or

(b) the description “mineral water”, “dŵr mwynol”, or its equivalent in any other language.

Sale of water as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon”

18

(1) No person may sell water which is bottled or labelled as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, if it—

(a) is bottled—

(i) in Wales, in contravention of regulation 14(1); or

(ii) otherwise than in Wales, in contravention of the requirements as described in regulation 14(1);

(b) has been subjected—

(i) in Wales, to any treatment or addition in contravention of regulation 15; or

(ii) otherwise than in Wales, to—

(aa) treatment which is not described at regulation 15(1)(a)(i), 15(1)(a)(ii), a fluoride removal treatment, or an ozone-enriched air oxidation treatment;

(bb) any addition other than an addition described in regulation 15(1)(b); or

(cc) any disinfection treatment, the addition of bacteriostatic elements, or any other treatment likely to change the viable colony count of the natural mineral water;

(i) in Wales, in contravention of regulation 16; or

(ii) otherwise than in Wales, in contravention of the requirements as described in regulation 16; or

(d) is advertised in contravention of regulation 17.

(2) No person may sell water from the same spring as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, under more than one trade description.

PART 4 — Bottled drinking water

Bottling of drinking water

19

No person may bottle drinking water unless that water meets the requirements of Schedule 7.

Labelling of bottled drinking water

20

No person may bottle drinking water and label it with—

(a) a designation, proprietary name, trade mark, brand name, illustration or other sign, whether emblematic or not, the use of which is liable to cause confusion of the drinking water with a natural mineral water, or

(b) the description “mineral water”, “dŵr mwynol”, or its equivalent in any other language.

Advertising of bottled drinking water

21

No person may advertise bottled drinking water under—

(a) a designation, proprietary name, trade mark, brand name, illustration or other sign, whether emblematic or not, the use of which is liable to cause confusion of the water with a natural mineral water, or

(b) the description “mineral water”, “dŵr mwynol”, or its equivalent in any other language.

Sale of bottled drinking water

22

No person may sell bottled drinking water which is—

(a) bottled in contravention of regulation 19;

(b) labelled in contravention of regulation 20; or

PART 5 — Monitoring and sampling

CHAPTER 1 — Natural mineral water

Monitoring of natural mineral water

23

In the case of natural mineral water, each food authority must carry out periodic checks to ensure that—

(a) the composition, temperature and other essential characteristics of the water remain stable within the limits of natural fluctuation;

(b) without prejudice to paragraph (a), the composition, temperature and other essential characteristics of the water are unaffected by any variations in the rate of flow;

(c) the viable colony count at source (before the water is subjected to any treatment) is reasonably constant, taking into account the qualitative and quantitative composition of the water considered in the recognition of the water and whether it continues to satisfy the requirements of Part 1 of Schedule 1; and

(d) the requirements of Schedule 4 are met in relation to the water.

CHAPTER 2 — Water bottled and labelled as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon” and bottled drinking water

Monitoring of water bottled and labelled as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon” and bottled drinking water

24

(1) In the case of water bottled and labelled as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, and bottled drinking water, each food authority must carry out regular monitoring of the quality of the water to check that—

(a) it ... complies with the parametric values set in accordance with Schedule 7; and

(b) where disinfection forms part of the preparation or distribution of bottled drinking water, the disinfection treatment applied is efficient and any contamination from disinfection by-products is kept as low as possible without compromising the disinfection.

(2) In order to comply with paragraph (1), each food authority must carry out—

(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) monitoring in accordance with Schedule 9 to check whether the water complies with the relevant parametric values specified in Part 4 of Schedule 7.

(3) Each food authority must carry out additional monitoring, on a case-by-case basis, in relation to any property, element, substance or organism other than a parameter specified in Schedule 7, if the food authority has reason to suspect that it may be present in the water concerned in an amount or number which constitutes a potential danger to human health.

Samples and analysis

25

(1) For the purpose of monitoring water bottled and labelled as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, and bottled drinking water, each food authority must carry out—

(a) sampling and analysis in accordance with Schedule 10 to check compliance with the parametric values specified in Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 7; and

(b) sampling and analysis in accordance with Schedule 11 to check compliance with the parametric value for indicative dose specified in Part 4 of Schedule 7.

(2) Each food authority must take samples at the point at which the water is bottled.

Remedial action

26

(1) If a food authority determines that water bottled and labelled as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, or bottled drinking water, does not comply with the parametric concentrations or values specified in Schedule 7, the food authority must—

(a) immediately investigate the non-compliance in order to identify the cause;

(b) assess whether the non-compliance poses a risk to human health which requires action;

(c) require the business operator to take remedial action as soon as possible to restore the quality of the water where that is necessary to protect human health;

(d) in respect of any parameter specified in Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 7, notify the general public of the remedial action taken, unless the food authority considers that non-compliance with the parametric value is trivial; and

(e) in respect of any parameter specified in Part 4 of Schedule 7, notify the general public of the risks and remedial action taken and advise the general public on any additional precautionary measures that may be needed for the protection of human health in respect of radioactive substances.

(2) If water bottled and labelled as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, or bottled drinking water, constitutes a potential danger to human health, irrespective of whether it meets the relevant parametric values in Schedule 7, the food authority must—

(a) prohibit or restrict the supply of that water in its area or take such other action as is necessary to protect human health; and

(b) inform the general public promptly of that fact and provide advice where necessary.

(3) A food authority is not required to prohibit or restrict the supply of water under paragraph (2)(a) if it considers that such action will give rise to an unacceptable risk to human health.

CHAPTER 3 — Treatments

Monitoring of certain treatments

27

(1) Each food authority must carry out periodic checks on any fluoride removal treatment which it has authorised to ensure that the requirements of paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 continue to be satisfied.

(2) Each food authority must carry out periodic checks on any ozone-enriched air treatment which it has authorised to ensure that the requirements of paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 continue to be satisfied.

CHAPTER 4 — Samples

General

28

The food authority must ensure that each sample is representative of the quality of the water concerned consumed throughout the year in which the sample is taken.

Delivery

29

(1) An authorised officer of a food authority who has procured a sample under section 29 of the Act and is required to give part of that sample to the owner in accordance with regulation 7(3)(c) of the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Wales) Regulations 2013 may deliver that sample——

(a) directly to the owner or the owner's agent; or

(b) by registered post or recorded delivery service.

(2) If, after reasonable enquiry, the authorised officer is unable to ascertain the name and address of the owner, the authorised officer may retain the sample.

(3) In this regulation, “owner” has the same meaning as in the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Wales) Regulations 2013.

Notification

30

(1) An authorised officer of a food authority who has procured a sample of water under section 29 of the Act for the purpose of analysis by a public analyst must serve notice in accordance with paragraph (2) if it appears that the water was exploited or bottled by a person (other than the owner) having a name and an address in the United Kingdom displayed on the bottle.

(2) The authorised officer must, within 3 days of procuring the sample, send to that person a notice informing them—

(a) that the sample has been procured by the officer; and

(b) where the sample was taken or, as the case may be, from who it was purchased.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply if the authorised officer decides not to have the sample analysed.

Analysis by the Government Chemist

31

(1) Paragraphs (2) to (6) apply where a part of a sample procured under section 29 of the Act has been submitted for analysis and another part of the sample has been retained in accordance with regulation 7(3)(e) of the Food Safety (Sampling and Qualifications) (Wales) Regulations 2013 and—

(a) an improvement notice has been served on a person under section 10(1) of the Act, as applied and modified by regulation 33, as read with Schedule 12, for a contravention of a provision of these Regulations in connection with that sample;

(b) an appeal against that improvement notice has been made by that person to the magistrates' court; and

(2) An authorised officer may send the retained part of the sample to the Government Chemist for analysis but must send it—

(a) if requested by the magistrates' court; or

(b) subject to paragraph (6), if requested by the recipient of the improvement notice.

(3) The Government Chemist must analyse, or direct a food analyst to analyse, the part of the sample sent under paragraph (2) and send to the authorised officer a Government Chemist's certificate of analysis.

(4) Any certificate sent by the Government Chemist must be signed by or on behalf of the Government Chemist, but the analysis may be carried out by a person under the direction of the person who signs the certificate.

(5) On receipt of the certificate the authorised officer must, as soon as is reasonably practicable, supply a copy of it to the magistrates' court and to the recipient of the improvement notice.

(6) Where a request is made under paragraph (2)(b), the authorised officer may request payment of a fee specified in writing from the recipient of the improvement notice to defray some or all of the Government Chemist's charges for performing the functions under paragraph (3).

(7) Where a notice is served under paragraph (6) and the recipient of the improvement notice refuses to pay the fee specified in the notice, the authorised officer may refuse to comply with the request made under paragraph (2)(b).

PART 6 — Enforcement and miscellaneous provisions

Enforcement

32

Each food authority must execute and enforce these Regulations in its area.

Application of the Act: improvement notices

33

(1) The provisions of section 10 of the Act specified in column 1 of Table 1 of Schedule 12 apply for the purpose of these Regulations, with the modifications specified in column 2 of that table to enable an authorised officer of a food authority to serve an improvement notice on any person who is failing to comply with regulations 8 to 22 of these Regulations or a provision of Regulation 115/2010 mentioned in column 2 of Table 1 of Schedule 12.

(2) Paragraph (1) is without prejudice to the application of section 10 of the Act for purposes other than those specified in paragraph (1).

(3) An authorised officer of a food authority must not serve an improvement notice under section 10(1) of the Act, as applied and modified in accordance with paragraph (1), if—

(a) the improvement notice would relate to water bottled and labelled before 28November 2015; and

(b) the matters constituting the alleged contravention would not have constituted an offence under the Regulations listed in regulation 37.

(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Application of the Act: powers of entry

34

(1) The provisions of section 32 of the Act specified in column 1 of Table 2 of Schedule 12 apply for the purposes of enabling these Regulations, with the modifications specified in column 2 of that table, to enable an authorised officer of a food authority—

(a) to exercise a power of entry to ascertain whether there is, or has been, any contravention of a provision of Regulation 115/2010 mentioned in column 2 of that table;

(b) to exercise a power of entry to ascertain whether there is any evidence of any contravention of such provisions; and

(c) where exercising a power of entry under the applied section 32 provisions, to exercise the associated powers in subsections (5) and (6) relating to records.

(2) Paragraph (1) is without prejudice to the application of section 32 of the Act for purposes other than those specified in paragraph (1).

Application of other provisions of the Act

35

The provisions of the Act specified in column 1 of Table 3 of Schedule 12 apply for the purposes of these Regulations, with the modifications specified in column 2 of that table.

Savings and transitional provisions

36

(1) Any recognition of water as natural mineral water granted under the Natural Mineral Waters Regulations 1985, the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 1999, or the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Wales) Regulations 2007 and subsisting on the date that these Regulations come into force shall—

(a) in the case of water extracted from the ground in Wales, be treated as if it were recognition granted by the food authority under regulation 4(2)(a); and

(b) in the case of water extracted from the ground in a third country, be treated as if it were recognition granted by the Agency under regulation 4(2)(d)(i).

(2) The revocation of the Regulations listed in regulation 37 does not affect the validity of any authorisation, recognition or notification made or given by the Agency or the food authority as the relevant authority under those Regulations, and any such authorisation, recognition or notification continues in effect.

(3) Where an application has been made under the Regulations listed in regulation 37 to a food authority for recognition of water as natural mineral water, the application is to be treated as if it had been made under Parts 1 or 2 of Schedule 1 to these Regulations.

Revocations

37

The following Regulations are revoked—

(a) the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Wales) Regulations 2007 ;

(b) the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 ;

(d) the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 .

Amendments to other legislation

38

Schedule 13 (amendments to other legislation) has effect.

SCHEDULE 1 — Recognition of natural mineral water

PART 1 — Natural mineral water extracted from the ground in Wales

1

A person seeking to have water which is extracted from the ground in Wales recognised as natural mineral water ... must apply in writing to the food authority within whose area the water is extracted, giving the following information—

(a) the particulars specified in paragraph 10(a) of Part 3;

(b) the information obtained as a result of the surveys and analyses required under paragraph 10(b) and (c), as read with paragraph 11, of Part 3; and

(c) evidence to show that the water contains no substance listed in Part 1 of Schedule 5 at a level which exceeds the maximum limit specified in relation to that substance in that Schedule.

2

Where information on the anions, cations, non-ionised compounds and trace elements is required to be given pursuant to paragraph 1(b), the concentration of each anion, cation, non-ionised compound and trace element specified in the first column of the tables in Part 4 of this Schedule must be expressed in the unit of measurement specified in the second column of the tables in Part 4.

3

Where information required by paragraph 1 has been given, the food authority must assess it and must recognise the water to which the information relates as natural mineral water if it is satisfied that—

(a) the water is natural mineral water which complies with paragraph 3 of Section I of Annex 1 to Directive 2009/54;

(b) the characteristics of the water have been assessed in accordance with—

(i) the points numbered 1 to 4 in paragraph 2(a) of Section I of Annex 1 to Directive 2009/54;

(ii) the particulars and criteria listed in Part 3 of this Schedule, and

(iii) recognised scientific methods.

4

The food authority must, on recognising a natural mineral water in accordance with paragraph 3, publish an announcement of such recognition and the grounds on which it has been granted in the London Gazette.

PART 2 — Natural mineral water extracted from the ground in a third country

5

A person seeking to have a water which is extracted from the ground in a third country recognised as a natural mineral water ... must apply in writing to the Agency, giving the following information—

(a) the particulars specified in paragraph 10(a) of Part 3;

(b) the information obtained as a result of the surveys and analyses required under paragraph 10(b) and (c), as read with paragraph 11, of Part 3; and

(c) evidence to show that the water contains no substance listed in Part 1 of Schedule 5 at a level which exceeds the maximum limit specified in relation to that substance in that Schedule.

6

Where information on the anions, cations, non-ionised compounds and trace elements is required to be given pursuant to paragraph 5(b), the concentration of each anion, cation, non-ionised compound and trace element specified in the first column of the tables in Part 4 of this Schedule must be expressed in the unit of measurement specified in the second column of the tables in Part 4.

7

The Agency must recognise such a water if the responsible authority of the country in which the water is extracted has certified that—

(a) it is satisfied—

(i) that the requirements in paragraph 10(b) and (c) of Part 3 are established;

(ii) with the evidence given pursuant to paragraph 5(c); and

(b) periodic checks are made to ascertain that—

(i) the water is natural mineral water which complies with paragraph 3 of Section I of Annex I to Directive 2009/54;

(ii) the characteristics of the water are assessed in accordance with—

(aa) points numbered 1 to 4 in paragraph 2(a) of Section I of Annex I to Directive 2009/54;

(bb) the particulars and criteria listed in Part 3 of this Schedule; and

(cc) recognised scientific methods; and

(iii) the provisions of Schedule 4 are being applied by the person exploiting the spring.

8

Recognition of such water lapses after a period of five years unless the responsible authority of the country in which the water is extracted has renewed the certification required by paragraph 7.

9

The Agency must, on recognising water in accordance with this Part, publish an announcement of such recognition in the London Gazette, the Edinburgh Gazette and the Belfast Gazette.

PART 3 — Requirements and criteria for recognition as a natural mineral water

10

A person seeking to have water recognised as natural mineral water in accordance with paragraph 1 of Part 1 or paragraph 5 of Part 2 of this Schedule, must carry out—

(a) geological and hydrological surveys which include the following particulars—

(i) the exact site of the catchment with an indication of its altitude, on a map with a scale of not more than 1:1,000;

(ii) a detailed geological report on the origin and nature of the terrain;

(iii) the stratigraphy of the hydrogeological layer;

(iv) a description of the catchment operations; and

(v) the demarcation of the area or details of other measures protecting the spring against pollution;

(b) physical, chemical and physico-chemical surveys which must establish—

(i) the rate of flow of the spring;

(ii) the temperature of the water at source and the ambient temperature;

(iii) the relationship between the nature of the terrain and the nature and type of minerals in the water;

(iv) the dry residues at 180ºC and 260ºC;

(v) the electrical conductivity or resistivity, with the measurement temperature being specified;

(vi) the hydrogen ion concentration (pH);

(vii) the anions and cations;

(viii) the non-ionised elements;

(ix) the trace elements;

(x) the radio-actinological properties at source;

(xi) where appropriate, the relative isotope levels of the constituent elements of water, oxygen (¹⁶O–¹⁸O) and hydrogen (protium, deuterium, tritium); and

(xii) the toxicity of certain constituent elements of the water, taking account of the limits laid down for each of them;

(i) the absence of parasites and pathogenic micro-organisms;

(ii) quantitative determination of the revivable colony count indicative of faecal contamination, demonstrating an absence of—

(aa) Escherichia coli and other coliforms in 250ml at 37ºC and 44.5ºC,

(bb) faecal streptococci in 250ml,

(cc) sporulated sulphite-reducing anaerobes in 50ml, and

(dd) Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 250ml; and

(iii) the revivable total colony count per ml of water—

(aa) at 20 to 22ºC in 72 hours on agar-agar or an agar-gelatine mixture, and

(bb) at 37ºC in 24 hours on agar-agar.

11

(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), a person seeking to have water recognised as natural mineral water in accordance with paragraph 1 of Part 1 or paragraph 5 of Part 2 of this Schedule, must carry out clinical and pharmacological analyses in accordance with scientifically recognised methods which should be suited to the particular characteristics of the natural mineral water and its effect on the human body, such as diuresis, gastric and intestinal functions, and compensation for mineral deficiencies.

(2) Clinical analyses may, in appropriate cases, take the place of the pharmacological analyses referred to in sub-paragraph (1), provided that the consistency and concordance of a substantial number of clinical observations enable the same results to be obtained.

PART 4 — Particulars of anions, cations, non-ionised compounds and trace elements

Anions	Unit of measurement
Borate BO₃ ⁻	mg/l
Carbonate CO₃²⁻	mg/l
Chloride Cl⁻	mg/l
Fluoride F ⁻	mg/l
Hydrogen Carbonate HCO₃-	mg/l
Nitrate NO₃ ⁻	mg/l
Nitrite NO₂ ⁻	mg/l
Phosphate PO BO₄ ³⁻	mg/l
Silicate SiO₂ ²⁻	mg/l
Sulphate SO₄ ²⁻	mg/l
Sulphide S²⁻	mg/l
Cations	Unit of measurement
---	---
Aluminium Al	mg/l
Ammonium NH₄ ⁺	mg/l
Calcium Ca	mg/l
Magnesium Mg	mg/l
Potassium K	mg/l
Sodium Na	mg/l
Non-ionised compounds	Unit of measurement
---	---
Total organic carbon C	mg/l
Free carbon dioxide CO₂	mg/l
Silica SiO₂	mg/l
Trace elements	Unit of measurement
---	---
Barium Ba	mg/l
Bromine (total) Br	mg/l
Cobalt Co	mg/l
Copper Cu	mg/l
Iodine (total) I	mg/l
Iron Fe	mg/l
Lithium Li	mg/l
Manganese Mn	mg/l
Molybdenum Mo	mg/l
Strontium Sr	mg/l
Zinc Zn	mg/l

SCHEDULE 2 — Fluoride removal treatment

1

No person may carry out fluoride removal treatment on natural mineral water or water intended to be bottled and labelled as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, unless that treatment is authorised by the food authority within whose area the water is extracted.

2

A person seeking authorisation to carry out fluoride removal treatment must—

(a) apply in writing to the food authority within whose area the water is extracted;

(b) permit representatives of that authority to examine the proposed method of treatment and place of treatment and take samples for analysis; and

3

The food authority must assess the application and any supporting information and must authorise the fluoride removal treatment if it is satisfied that—

(a) Articles 1 to 3 of Regulation 115/2010 are complied with in relation to the treatment; and

(b) the treatment does not have a disinfectant action.

4

Where the food authority decides to authorise a fluoride removal treatment pursuant to paragraph 3, it must inform the applicant in writing and state the date from which the authorisation for use of the treatment has effect.

5

Where the food authority decides to refuse to authorise a fluoride removal treatment pursuant to paragraph 3, it must inform the applicant in writing, stating its reasons.

6

Where a fluoride removal treatment has been authorised pursuant to paragraph 3, the person carrying out the treatment must, for the purpose of enabling the food authority to assess whether the conditions in paragraph 3 continue to be satisfied—

(a) permit representatives of the authority to examine the method of treatment and place of treatment and take samples for analysis; and

(b) provide such information related to the treatment as is requested by the food authority.

7

The food authority may withdraw authorisation of a fluoride removal treatment if it is satisfied that the conditions specified in paragraph 3 are no longer fulfilled, by giving the person operating the treatment a written notice stating the grounds for withdrawal.

8

Where the food authority notifies a person seeking authorisation of a fluoride removal treatment of the authority's refusal to authorise a treatment under paragraph 3, or notifies the person operating a treatment of its decision to withdraw authorisation under paragraph 7, that person may, within 6 months of being notified of the decision, apply to the Agency for a review.

9

The Agency, upon receiving an application under paragraph 8, must within 3 months from the date of that application—

(a) make such inquiries into the matter as the Agency considers appropriate;

(b) consider the results of those inquiries and any other relevant facts; and

(i) confirm the decision; or

(ii) direct the food authority to grant or restore authorisation of a fluoride removal treatment as appropriate.

10

The food authority must immediately comply with a direction of the Agency under paragraph 9(c)(ii).

SCHEDULE 3 — Ozone-enriched air treatment

1

No person may carry out an ozone-enriched air treatment on natural mineral water or water intended to be bottled and labelled as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, unless—

(a) it is for the purpose of separating compounds of iron, manganese, sulphur and arsenic from water in which they occur naturally at source;

(b) prior to treatment the requirements of paragraphs 6, 7 and 8 of Schedule 4 are satisfied; and

2

An ozone-enriched air treatment must not—

(a) modify the physico-chemical composition of the water in terms of its characteristic constituents; or

(b) leave residues in the water which could pose a risk to public health, or, in the case of the substances listed below, above the levels specified.

Treatment residue	Maximum limit ug/l
Dissolved ozone	50
Bromate	3
Bromoform	1

3

A person seeking authorisation to carry out an ozone-enriched air treatment must—

(a) make an application in writing to the food authority in whose area the water is extracted;

(b) permit representatives of that authority to examine the proposed method of treatment and place of treatment and take samples for analysis; and

4

The food authority must assess the application and any supporting information and must authorise the ozone-enriched air treatment if it is satisfied that—

(a) the treatment process is justified by the composition of the water at source in terms of compounds of iron, manganese, sulphur and arsenic;

(b) the person carrying out the treatment is taking all necessary measures to ensure that the treatment is effective and safe; and

5

Where the food authority decides to authorise an ozone-enriched air treatment pursuant to paragraph 4, it must inform the applicant in writing and state the date from which the authorisation for use of the treatment has effect.

6

Where the food authority refuses to authorise an ozone-enriched air treatment pursuant to paragraph 4, it must inform the applicant in writing, stating its reasons.

7

Where an ozone-enriched air treatment has been authorised pursuant to paragraph 4, the person carrying out the treatment must, for the purpose of enabling the food authority to assess whether the conditions in paragraph 4(a) and (b) continue to be satisfied—

(a) permit representatives of the authority to examine the method of treatment and place of treatment and take samples for analysis; and

(b) provide such information related to the treatment as is requested by the food authority.

8

The food authority may withdraw authorisation of an ozone-enriched air treatment if it is satisfied that the conditions specified in paragraph 4 are no longer fulfilled, by giving the person operating the treatment a written notice stating the grounds for withdrawal.

9

Where the food authority notifies a person seeking authorisation of an ozone-enriched air treatment of the authority's refusal to authorise a treatment under paragraph 4, or notifies the person operating a treatment of its decision to withdraw authorisation under paragraph 8, that person may, within 6 months of being notified of the decision, apply to the Agency for a review.

10

The Agency, upon receiving an application under paragraph 9, must within 3 months from the date of that application—

(a) make such inquiries into the matter as the Agency considers appropriate;

(b) consider the results of those inquiries and any other relevant facts; and

(i) confirm the decision; or

(ii) direct the food authority to grant or restore authorisation of the ozone-enriched air treatment as appropriate.

11

The food authority must immediately comply with a direction of the Agency under paragraph 10(c)(ii).

SCHEDULE 4 — Exploitation and bottling requirements for natural mineral water and water intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon”

1

Equipment for exploiting the water must be so installed as to avoid any possibility of contamination and to preserve the properties corresponding to those ascribed to it which the water possesses at source.

2

The spring or outlet must be protected against the risks of pollution.

3

The catchment, pipes and reservoirs must be of materials suitable for water and so built as to prevent any chemical, physico-chemical or microbiological alteration of the water.

4

The conditions of exploitation, particularly the washing and bottling equipment, must meet hygiene requirements including, in particular, that containers must be so treated or manufactured as to avoid adverse effects on the microbiological and chemical characteristics of the water.

5

(1) Subject to sub-paragraphs (2) and (3), water must not be transported in containers other than those authorised for distribution to the ultimate consumer.

(2) Natural mineral water may be transported from the spring to the bottling plant in a container which is not for distribution to the ultimate consumer if on or before 17 July 1980 water from that spring was so transported.

(3) Water intended to be labelled and sold as “spring water”, “dŵr ffynnon”, or its equivalent in any other language, may be transported from the spring to the bottling plant in a container which is not for distribution to the ultimate consumer if, on or before 13 December 1996, water from that spring was so transported.

6

(1) The revivable total colony count of the water at source, determined according to sub-paragraph (2), must conform to the normal viable colony count of that water and must not show that the source of that water is contaminated.

(2) The colony count is that determined per ml of water—

(a) at 20 to 22ºC in 72 hours on agar-agar or an agar-gelatine mixture; and

(b) at 37ºC in 24 hours on agar-agar.

7

(1) After bottling, the total colony count of the water at source may not exceed—

(a) 100 per ml at 20 to 22ºC in 72 hours on agar-agar or on agar-gelatine mixture; and

(b) 20 per ml at 37ºC in 24 hours on agar-agar.

(2) The total colony count of the water must be measured within a period of 12 hours following bottling, the water being maintained at 4ºC +/- 1ºC during that period.

8

Water must be free from—

(a) parasites and pathogenic micro-organisms;

(b) Escherichia coli and other coliforms and faecal streptococci in any 250ml sample examined;

(d) Pseudomonas aeruginosa in any 250ml sample examined.

SCHEDULE 5 — Constituents of natural mineral water

PART 1 — Maximum limits for constituents of natural mineral water

¹ The constituents described above refer to constituents naturally present in the water at source and not to substances present as the result of contamination.	¹ The constituents described above refer to constituents naturally present in the water at source and not to substances present as the result of contamination.
Constituents¹	Maximum limits (mg/l)
Antimony	0.0050
Arsenic	0.010 (as total)
Barium	1.0
Cadmium	0.003
Chromium	0.050
Copper	1.0
Cyanide	0.070
Fluoride	5.0
Lead	0.010
Manganese	0.50
Mercury	0.0010
Nickel	0.020
Nitrate	50
Nitrite	0.1
Selenium	0.010

PART 2 — Performance characteristics for analysing the constituents in Part 1

¹ The method of analysis used to measure the concentration of the constituents in Part 1 must be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the parametric value with the specified accuracy, precision and detection limits. Regardless of the sensitivity of the method of analysis, the result must be expressed to at least the same number of decimal places as the maximum limit set out in Part 1 for the particular constituent being analysed.	¹ The method of analysis used to measure the concentration of the constituents in Part 1 must be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the parametric value with the specified accuracy, precision and detection limits. Regardless of the sensitivity of the method of analysis, the result must be expressed to at least the same number of decimal places as the maximum limit set out in Part 1 for the particular constituent being analysed.	¹ The method of analysis used to measure the concentration of the constituents in Part 1 must be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the parametric value with the specified accuracy, precision and detection limits. Regardless of the sensitivity of the method of analysis, the result must be expressed to at least the same number of decimal places as the maximum limit set out in Part 1 for the particular constituent being analysed.	¹ The method of analysis used to measure the concentration of the constituents in Part 1 must be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the parametric value with the specified accuracy, precision and detection limits. Regardless of the sensitivity of the method of analysis, the result must be expressed to at least the same number of decimal places as the maximum limit set out in Part 1 for the particular constituent being analysed.
² Accuracy is the systematic error and represents the difference between the average value of a large number of repeated measurements and the exact value.	² Accuracy is the systematic error and represents the difference between the average value of a large number of repeated measurements and the exact value.	² Accuracy is the systematic error and represents the difference between the average value of a large number of repeated measurements and the exact value.	² Accuracy is the systematic error and represents the difference between the average value of a large number of repeated measurements and the exact value.
³ Precision represents the random error and is expressed in general as the standard deviation (within a batch and between batches) of a sample of results from the average. Acceptable precision is equal to twice the relative standard deviation.	³ Precision represents the random error and is expressed in general as the standard deviation (within a batch and between batches) of a sample of results from the average. Acceptable precision is equal to twice the relative standard deviation.	³ Precision represents the random error and is expressed in general as the standard deviation (within a batch and between batches) of a sample of results from the average. Acceptable precision is equal to twice the relative standard deviation.	³ Precision represents the random error and is expressed in general as the standard deviation (within a batch and between batches) of a sample of results from the average. Acceptable precision is equal to twice the relative standard deviation.
⁴ The detection limit is—	⁴ The detection limit is—	⁴ The detection limit is—	⁴ The detection limit is—
(a) three times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a natural sample containing a low concentration of the constituent; or	(a) three times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a natural sample containing a low concentration of the constituent; or	(a) three times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a natural sample containing a low concentration of the constituent; or	(a) three times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a natural sample containing a low concentration of the constituent; or
(b) five times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a virgin sample.	(b) five times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a virgin sample.	(b) five times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a virgin sample.	(b) five times the relative standard deviation within a batch of a virgin sample.
⁵ The method should make it possible to determine cyanide in all its forms.	⁵ The method should make it possible to determine cyanide in all its forms.	⁵ The method should make it possible to determine cyanide in all its forms.	⁵ The method should make it possible to determine cyanide in all its forms.
Constituents¹	Accuracy of parametric value in %²	Precision of parametric value³	Detection limit of parametric value in % ⁴
Antimony	25	25	25
Arsenic	10	10	10
Barium	25	25	25
Cadmium	10	10	10
Chromium	10	10	10
Copper	10	10	10
Cyanide⁵	10	10	10
Fluoride	10	10	10
Lead	10	10	10
Manganese	10	10	10
Mercury	20	10	20
Nickel	10	10	10
Nitrate	10	10	10
Nitrite	10	10	10
Selenium	10	10	10

SCHEDULE 6 — Labelling indications for natural mineral water

Indication	Criteria
Low mineral content	Mineral salt content, calculated as a fixed residue, not greater than 500 mg/l
Very low mineral content	Mineral salt content, calculated as a fixed residue, not greater than 50 mg/l
Rich in mineral salts	Mineral salt content, calculated as a fixed residue, greater than 1500 mg/l
Contains bicarbonate	Bicarbonate content greater than 600 mg/l
Contains sulphate	Sulphate content greater than 200 mg/l
Contains chloride	Chloride content greater than 200 mg/l
Contains calcium	Calcium content greater than 150 mg/l
Contains magnesium	Magnesium content greater than 50 mg/l
Contains fluoride	Fluoride content greater than 1 mg/l
Contains iron	Bivalent iron content greater than 1 mg/l
Acidic	Free carbon dioxide content greater than 250 mg/l
Contains sodium	Sodium content greater than 200 mg/l
Suitable for a low-sodium diet	Sodium content less than 20 mg/l

SCHEDULE 7 — Requirements for water bottled and labelled as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon” and bottled drinking water including prescribed concentrations or values of parameters

PART 1 — Requirements for water bottled and labelled as “spring water” or “dŵr ffynnon” and bottled drinking water

1

Water satisfies the requirements of this Schedule if—

(a) the water does not contain any micro-organism (other than a parameter) or parasite, or any property, element or substance (other than a parameter) at a concentration or value which would constitute a potential danger to human health;

(b) the water does not contain any substance (whether or not a parameter) at a concentration or value which, in conjunction with any other property, element, substance or organism it contains (whether or not a parameter), would constitute a potential danger to human health; and

(c) the water does not contain concentrations or values of any of the parameters listed in the tables in Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of this Schedule in excess of the prescribed concentrations or values.

2

The concentrations or values of the parameters listed in the tables in Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of this Schedule must be read in conjunction with the notes to those tables.

PART 2 — Parametric values for microbiological and chemical parameters

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