Article 1
1.This Directive concerns waters extracted from the ground of a Member State and recognised by the responsible authority of that Member State as natural mineral waters satisfying the provisions of Annex I, Section I.
2.This Directive also concerns waters extracted from the ground of a third country, imported into the Community and recognised as natural mineral waters by the responsible authority of a Member State.
The waters referred to in the first subparagraph may be so recognised only if the responsible authority in the country of extraction has certified that they satisfy the provisions of Annex I, Section I, and that regular checks are made on the application of the provisions of Annex II, point 2.
The validity of the certification referred to in the second subparagraph may not exceed a period of five years. It shall not be necessary to repeat the recognition procedure referred to in the first subparagraph if the certification is renewed before the end of that period.
3.This Directive shall not apply to:
(a)waters which are medicinal products within the meaning of Directive 2001/83/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 November 2001 on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use(1);
(b)natural mineral waters used at source for curative purposes in thermal or hydromineral establishments.
4.The grounds for granting the recognition referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be stated in due form by the responsible authority of the Member State and shall be officially published.
5.Each Member State shall inform the Commission of the cases where the recognition referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 has been granted or withdrawn. The list of natural mineral waters so recognised shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.