News | Sunday, 30 August 2009

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Health Department investigating illegal branding of mineral water

James Debono
The marketing of Maltese bottled water as ‘mineral water’ is illegal because none of the local brands match European Union criteria to be recognised as such.
Denoting bottled water as mineral on directories, menus or online shopping sites is also illegal, the Health Department said.
None of the water sold in Malta is labelled as mineral water. But this misnomer is often used when this water is listed in restaurants, directories and online shopping sites. The Health Department is currently investigating a number of cases like these.
None of the Maltese brands of bottled water have featured on a list issued last week of all brands of mineral water sold in the European Union. The list, regularly issued by the European Commission, includes mineral waters sold in all EU states, as well as Iceland and Norway.
A recent survey published on newspaper Illum showed that 63% rely on bottled water as the main supply for their drinking water. The survey also showed that Maltese brand Kristal is the most popular, followed by the San Michel brand.
An EC spokesperson said that the Maltese authorities have not granted official recognition for any natural mineral water. Since local bottled water is marketed as ‘table water’ and not as mineral, it does not need to meet the criteria laid down the EU directive which imposes strict standards on water extracted from natural springs and groundwater sources.
Table water
defines bottled water that comes from more than one source, including the public water supply. Treatment of the water is permitted to ensure it meets compositional or microbiological requirements, which are governed by law.
On the other hand, mineral water must come from a protected source. European law stipulates that this water cannot undergo any treatment, except filtration, to remove sand particles. Therefore what goes into the bottle is the same as what comes out of the ground.
All natural mineral waters have a mineral analysis on the label, so that consumers can know exactly what they are drinking.
Natural mineral waters must be officially recognised through a local authority after a qualifying period of two years, during which time it is repeatedly analysed.
Bottled water sold in Malta generally consists in treated water bought from the public supply, as is the case for the San Michel brand, or a mixture of groundwater and tap water, as is the case with the Kristal brand.
Aqua Azzura and Gocce are exclusively derived from groundwater, which is extracted for free from groundwater sources. Irrespective of their origin all these brands are marketed as table water.
Operators who want to market their water as ‘natural mineral water’ have to submit an application to the relevant authority of their country. It is then up this authority to grant the official recognition, which has to be notified to the European Commission.

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