NATURAL MINERAL WATERS​ codex

Description

Definition Of Natural Mineral Water :-

·       It Is Characterized By Its Content Of Certain Mineral Salts And Their Relative Proportions And The Presence Of Trace Elements Or Of Other Constituents;

·       It Is Obtained Directly From Natural Or Drilled Sources From Underground Water Bearing Strata For Which All Possible Precautions Should Be Taken Within The Protected Perimeters To Avoid Any Pollution Of, Or External Influence On, The Chemical And Physical Qualities Of Natural Mineral Water;

·       Of The Constancy Of Its Composition And The Stability Of Its Discharge And Its Temperature, Due Account Being Taken Of The Cycles Of Minor Natural Fluctuations;

·       It Is Collected Under Conditions Which Guarantee The Original Microbiological Purity And Chemical Composition Of Essential Components;

·       It Is Packaged Close To The Point Of Emergence Of The Source With Particular Hygienic Precautions;

·       It Is Not Subjected To Any Treatment Other Than Those Permitted By This Standard.

Supplementary Definitions :-

·       A Naturally Carbonated Natural Mineral Water Is A Natural Mineral Water Which, After Possible Treatment In Accordance With Section 3.1.1 And Re-Incorporation Of Gas From The Same Source And After Packaging Taking Into Consideration Usual Technical Tolerance, Has The Same Content Of Carbon Dioxide Spontaneously And Visibly Given Off Under Normal Conditions Of Temperature And Pressure.

Composition And Quality Factors

·       Treatments Permitted Include Separation From Unstable Constituents, Such As Compounds Containing Iron, Manganese, Sulphur Or Arsenic, By Decantation And/Or Filtration, If Necessary, Accelerated By Previous Aeration.

·       The Transport Of Natural Mineral Waters In Bulk Containers For Packaging Or For Any Other Process Before Packaging Is Prohibited.

·       Health-Related Limits For Certain Substances :-

Natural Mineral Water In Its Packaged State Shall Contain Not More Than The Following Amounts Of The Substances Indicated Hereunder:

·       Antimony – 0.005 Mg/L 

·       Arsenic – 0.01 Mg/L, Calculated As Total As 

·       Barium – 0.7 Mg/L 1

·       Borate – 5 Mg/L, Calculated As B 

·       Cadmium – 0.003 Mg/L 

·       Chromium – 0.05 Mg/L, Calculated As Total Cr 

·       Copper – 1 Mg/L

·       Cyanide – 0.07 Mg/L 

·       Lead – 0.01 Mg/L 

·       Manganese – 0.4 Mg/L 

·       Mercury – 0.001 Mg/L 

·       Nickel – 0.02 Mg/L 

·       Nitrate – 50 Mg/L, Calculated As Nitrate 

·       Nitrite – 0.1 Mg/L As Nitrite 

·       Selenium – 0.01 Mg/L 

Food Additives

·       No Additives Except For The Addition Of Carbon Dioxide To Produce Carbonated Products.

Hygiene

·       It Is Recommended That The Products Covered By The Provisions Of This Standard Be Prepared In Accordance With The Applicable Sections Of The General Principles Of Food Hygiene (Cxc 1-1969), And In Accordance With The Code Of Practice For The Collecting, Processing And Marketing Of Natural Mineral Waters (Cxc 331985).

·       The Source Or The Point Of Emergence Shall Be Protected Against Risks Of Pollution.

The Installations Intended For The Production Of Natural Mineral Waters Shall Be Such As To Exclude Any Possibility Of Contamination. For This Purpose, And In Particular:-

·       The Installations For Collection, The Pipes And The Reservoirs Shall Be Made From Materials Suited To The Water And In Such A Way As To Prevent The Introduction Of Foreign Substances Into The Water;

·       The Equipment And Its Use For Production, Especially Installations For Washing And Packaging, Shall Meet Hygienic Requirements;

·       If, During Production It Is Found That The Water Is Polluted, The Producer Shall Stop All Operations Until The Cause Of Pollution Is Eliminated;

·       The Observance Of The Above Provisions Shall Be Subject To Periodic Checks In Accordance With The Requirements Of The Country Of Origin.

Microbiological Requirements :-

·       During Marketing, Natural Mineral Water Should Conform To The Microbiological Criteria As Defined In Annex I Of The Code Of Hygienic Practice For Collecting, Processing And Marketing Of Natural Mineral Waters (Cxc 33-1985).

Packaging

·       Natural Mineral Water Shall Be Packed In Hermetically Sealed Retail Containers Suitable For Preventing The Possible Adulteration Or Contamination Of Water.

Labelling

·       In Addition To The General Standard For The Labelling Of Prepackaged Foods (Cxs 1-1985), The Following Provisions Shall Apply:

The Name Of The Product :-

·       Naturally Carbonated Natural Mineral Water;

·       Non-Carbonated Natural Mineral Water;

·       Decarbonated Natural Mineral Water;

·       Natural Mineral Water Fortified With Carbon Dioxide From The Source;

·       Carbonated Natural Mineral Water.

Name And Address :-

·       The Location Of The Source And The Name Of The Source Shall Be Declared.

Labelling Prohibitions :-

·       No Claims Concerning Medicinal (Preventative, Alleviative Or Curative) Effects Shall Be Made In Respect Of The Properties Of The Product Covered By The Standard. Claims Of Other Beneficial Effects Related To The Health Of The Consumer Shall Not Be Made Unless True And Not Misleading.

·       The Name Of The Locality, Hamlet Or Specified Place May Not Form Part Of The Trade Name Unless It Refers To A Natural Mineral Water Collected At The Place Designated By That Trade Name.

·       The Use Of Any Statement Or Of Any Pictorial Device Which May Create Confusion In The Mind Of The Public Or In Any Way Mislead The Public About The Nature, Origin, Composition And Properties Of Natural Mineral Waters Put On Sale Is Prohibited.

Methods Of Analysis And Sampling

·       See Relevant Codex Texts On Methods Of Analysis And Sampling.