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.
“Insufficiently targeted” inspections
The system “is not designed to detect or mitigate fraud in the natural mineral water and spring water sector and is also not properly implemented, making it possible for unsuitable products to be present on the market. -compliant and potentially fraudulent,” it is added.
The audit deplores in particular insufficiently targeted inspections on risk sites and not frequent enough as well as “inadequate collaboration within the competent authorities and between them”. It also highlights “the absence of immediate follow-up measures” making it possible to “guarantee that operators remedy non-compliance such as the use of prohibited treatments” or to “avoid the placing on the market of mineral waters natural which are not qualified as such”.
Investigations opened against several brands
A French subsidiary of the Swiss agri-food giant Nestlé – which draws water from the Perrier, Vittel, Hépar and Contrex brands in France – admitted at the end of January to having used prohibited disinfection treatments (UV lamp, activated carbon) on mineral waters to maintain their “food security”. The group has since assured that it has intensified monitoring of its drilling.
A preliminary investigation for deception has been opened by the Epinal public prosecutor’s office against Nestlé Waters.
The Alma group, which produces around thirty brands of bottled water in France, has for its part been the subject of an administrative procedure. The latter concerns “old and isolated facts relating to regulatory non-compliance”, indicated the company without giving further details, affirming only that it “does not concern the use of prohibited treatments on contaminated mineral water “.
The consumer association Foodwatch, which filed a complaint against Nestlé, Sources Alma but also the government which it accuses of “complacency”, estimated in a press release on Wednesday that the audit “confirms what it denounces with each scandal: opacity for consumers, lack of controls from authorities and impunity for multinationals.”
This article is originally published on ledauphine.com
