Brussels detects serious shortcomings in bottled water controls in France

Published 2024년 7월 25일

Tridge summary

An audit by the European Commission has uncovered major deficiencies in France's control system for bottled water, which fails to prevent fraudulent products. Despite having procedures and testing capabilities, the system does not effectively ensure compliance with legal standards, lacks targeted inspections, and suffers from poor inter-agency collaboration. Nestlé Waters and the Alma group are under investigation for using banned treatments on mineral waters. The consumer group Foodwatch has criticized the lack of transparency and control, pointing out the impunity of multinational companies.

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Original content

The system put in place by France to control bottled water is marred by "serious shortcomings" and does not guarantee the absence of fraudulent products on the shelves, the European Commission estimated in an audit published on Wednesday. Brussels initiated this procedure after press reports in January suggesting possible infringements in the natural mineral water sector, and organized a mission lasting around ten days in March. According to its conclusions, there is indeed a control system for natural mineral waters and spring waters in France with adequate procedures and laboratory testing capabilities. But "as a whole, the official control system does not effectively verify that the natural mineral waters placed on the market meet the legal requirements in force", estimates the audit. The system "is not designed to detect or mitigate fraud in the natural mineral water and spring water sector nor is it properly implemented, making possible the presence on the market of ...

Source: Bfmtv