§ Norman BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to require bottled water to meet drinking water standards applicable to tap water. [165686]
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§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 19 April 2004]: Spring water and bottled drinking water already have to comply with the standards for tap water. Natural mineral water, which must come from a natural source and cannot be treated, may contain higher levels of minerals than those permitted in tap water. However, limits are in place for potentially toxic substances and microbiological parameters. The limits for natural mineral water, as with drinking water, spring water and bottled drinking water, are set on health grounds.