§ Lord Cocks of Hartcliffeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are satisfied with the quality of bottled water and what arrangements are made for testing it.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)The quality of bottled water is harmonised throughout the Community by means of Council Directives 80/777/EEC and 80/778/EEC. Council Directive 80/777/EEC which deals with natural mineral waters, including approval and testing arrangements, was implemented in this country by the Natural Mineral Waters Regulations 1985. Regulations to implement provisions of Council Directive 80/778/EEC which will introduce controls on other bottled waters equivalent to those for drinking water, are currently being drafted and a public consultation is envisaged later this year. In addition, bottled water, like all foodstuffs covered by the Food Safety Act 1990 must be of the nature, substance and quality demanded by the purchaser.