1.Natural mineral water, in its state at source, may not be the subject of any treatment other than:
(a)the separation of its unstable elements, such as iron and sulphur compounds, by filtration or decanting, possibly preceded by oxygenation, in so far as this treatment does not alter the composition of the water as regards the essential constituents which give it its properties;
(b)the separation of iron, manganese and sulphur compounds and arsenic from certain natural mineral waters by treatment with ozone-enriched air in so far as such treatment does not alter the composition of the water as regards the essential constituents which give it its properties, and provided that:
the treatment complies with the conditions for use to be laid down by the Commission following consultation of the European Food Safety Authority, established by Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety(1);
the treatment is notified to, and specifically controlled by, the competent authorities;
(c)the separation of undesirable constituents other than those specified in points (a) or (b), in so far as this treatment does not alter the composition of the water as regards the essential constituents which give it its properties, and provided that:
the treatment complies with the conditions for use to be laid down by the Commission following consultation of the European Food Safety Authority;
the treatment is notified to, and specifically controlled by, the competent authorities;
(d)the total or partial elimination of free carbon dioxide by exclusively physical methods.
The measures referred to in points (b)(i) and (c)(i), designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 14(2).
The first subparagraph shall not constitute a bar to the utilisation of natural mineral waters and spring waters in the manufacture of soft drinks.
2.Natural mineral water, in its state at source, may not be the subject of any addition other than the introduction or the reintroduction of carbon dioxide under the conditions laid down in Annex I, Section III.
3.Any disinfection treatment by whatever means and, subject to paragraph 2, the addition of bacteriostatic elements or any other treatment likely to change the viable colony count of the natural mineral water, shall be prohibited.