Article 9
1.It shall be prohibited, both on packaging or labels and in advertising in any form whatsoever, to use indications, designations, trade marks, brand names, pictures or other signs, whether figurative or not, which:
(a)in the case of a natural mineral water, suggest a characteristic which the water does not possess, in particular as regards its origin, the date of the authorisation to exploit it, the results of analyses or any similar references to guarantees of authenticity;
(b)in the case of drinking water packaged in containers, which does not satisfy the provisions of Annex I, Section I, are liable to cause confusion with a natural mineral water, in particular the description ‘mineral water’.
2.All indications attributing to a natural mineral water properties relating to the prevention, treatment or cure of a human illness shall be prohibited.
However, the indications listed in Annex III shall be authorised if they meet the relevant criteria laid down in that Annex or, in the absence thereof, criteria laid down in national provisions and provided that they have been drawn up on the basis of physico-chemical analyses and, where necessary, pharmacological, physiological and clinical examinations carried out according to recognised scientific methods, in accordance with Annex I, Section I, point 2.
Member States may authorise the indications ‘stimulates digestion’, ‘may facilitate the hepato-biliary functions’ or similar indications. They may also authorise the inclusion of other indications, provided that the latter do not conflict with the principles provided for in the first subparagraph and are compatible with those provided for in the second subparagraph.
3.Member States may adopt special provisions regarding indications — both on packaging or labels and in advertising — concerning the suitability of a natural mineral water for the feeding of infants. Such provisions may also concern the properties of the water which determine the use of those indications.
Member States which intend taking such measures shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of them beforehand.
4.The term ‘spring water’ shall be reserved for a water which is intended for human consumption in its natural state, and bottled at source, which:
(a)satisfies the conditions of exploitation laid down in Annex II, points 2 and 3, which shall be fully applicable to spring waters;
(b)satisfies the microbiological requirements laid down in Article 5;
(c)satisfies the labelling requirements of Article 7(2), points (b) and (c), and Article 8;
(d)has not undergone any treatment other than those referred to in Article 4. Other treatments may be authorised by the Commission.
The measures referred to in point (d), 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).
In addition, spring waters shall comply with the provisions of Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption(1).
5.In the absence of Community provisions on the treatment for spring waters referred to in point (d) of the first subparagraph of paragraph 4, Member States may maintain their national provisions on the treatments.