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The primary purpose of the EU natural mineral water legislation is to protect the health of consumers, to prevent consumers from being misled, to ensure fair trading and to facilitate the functioning of the internal market. There are different categories of waters intended for human consumption, such as natural mineral waters, natural spring waters, table waters and tap water. Natural mineral waters may be distinguished from ordinary drinking water by their purity at source and their constant level of minerals. Spring waters are intended for human consumption in their natural state. Both categories should be bottled at source and placed on the market just as the prepacked food. Natural mineral waters are subject to an authorization procedure carried out by the competent authorities of the EU countries or by European Economic Area (EEA) countries. In Croatia competent authority is Ministry of Agriculture. Specificity for the Croatian market is recognition procedure for natural spring water too. The lists of natural mineral waters officially recognized by the EU countries of the EU and of the EEA (Iceland and Norway) are published by the European Commission in the Official Journal of the European Union. Furthermore, the list of natural mineral and natural spring water officially recognized in Croatia is published in the "Official Gazette". The list shall contain the trade name of the product, name of origin, place of origin and the use of country of origin. These lists are regularly updated. It is prohibited to market natural mineral water, as well as natural spring water, from one and the same spring under more than one trade description. Also, all indications attributing to a natural mineral water properties relating to the prevention, treatment or cure of a human illness are prohibited. Member States may adopt special provisions regarding indications (both on packaging or labels and in advertising) concerning the suitability of a natural mineral water for the feeding of infants. For the first time, in Croatian ordinance would be prescribed parameters which operators must fulfil to label a natural mineral water as suitable for the preparation of infant food. |
