The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 (“the 2007 Regulations”) (S.R. 2007 No. 420) and in so doing implement Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters (Recast) (OJ No. L164, 26.6.2009, p.45).

The Regulations amend the 2007 Regulations by —

(a) removing the definition of “Directive 80/777” from regulation 2(1) (interpretation), inserting one of “Directive 2009/54” and substituting a new definition of “natural mineral water” (regulation 3(a), (b) and (d));

(b) substituting a new definition of “EEA State” (regulation 3(c));

(c) substituting references to “Directive 2009/54” for the references to “Directive 80/777” that appear in specified provisions (regulation 4);

(d) making minor changes to the wording of regulation 8(1)(c) and (h) and (4), regulation 9(2)(c) and paragraph 4 of Schedule 4 to reflect minor differences between the provisions of Directive 2009/54 (which those domestic provisions now implement) and the corresponding provisions of Directive 80/777 (which those domestic provisions formerly implemented) (regulation 5, 6 and 7(a));

(e) substituting, for the provision under which spring water may be transported from spring to bottling plant in containers not for distribution to the ultimate consumer if water from the spring was so transported before 23rd November 1996, one which changes that date to 13th December 1996 (regulation 7(b)); and

(f) substituting, for the provision under which natural mineral water and spring water must be free of specified organisms, one which lays down that such water must be free of them both at source and during marketing (regulation 7(c)).

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this rule as no impact on the private or voluntary sectors is foreseen.