(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations, which apply to Great Britain, implement the provisions of Council Directive 80/778/EEC (OJ No. L 229, 30.8.80, p. 11) relating to the quality of water intended for human consumption, in relation to drinking water which is bottled or sold in a bottle (as defined in regulation 2).
These Regulations do not apply to natural mineral waters or medicinal products (regulation 3).
The Regulations—
(a)prescribe the quality standards for drinking water sold in a bottle and provide that the bottling or sale of drinking water which fails to comply with any of those standards is an offence (regulation 4);
(b)provide a defence to a person who proves that the drinking water in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed was intended for export and complied with the importing country’s domestic legislation corresponding to that alleged offence (regulation 5);
(c)prescribe penalties upon conviction of an offence (regulation 6);
(d)require the food authorities to enforce the Regulations (regulation 7);
(e)apply specified provisions of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulation 8).
A copy of the Compliance Cost Assessment made for these Regulations has been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament and copies can be obtained from the Consumer Protection Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at Ergon House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.