Appendix

Water definitions

Bottled drinking water

The basic requirements of the UK regulations are:

• ‘Bottled drinking water ‘is a legal category of water and should not be confused with the general use of the term ‘bottled water’.

• Can come from any source - groundwater, surface water (e.g. lake or river), tap water or other (e.g. glacier, iceberg, rainwater)

• Need not be bottled at source.

• Can undergo any form of water treatment.

• Water from a single source can be bottled under different names.

• Can be bottled under any description except one that is misleading to consumers. Use of the description natural mineral water, spring water or mineral water is not permitted. Some commonly used descriptions are ‘table water’ and ‘purified water’.

• The water must meet requirements for microbiological and chemical quality.

• These definitions are a simple description of the requirements of the UK bottled water regulations. Section 18 - Legislation details the relevant regulations for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and any subsequent amendments.

Flavored water

Sweetened with sugar, sweetener or unsweetened with added fruit essence; sparkling and still natural mineral, spring or bottled drinking water with added flavourings.

Includes:

• Flavoured unsweetened bottled waters

• Flavoured bottled waters with added sugar and/or sweetener

Excludes:

• ‘Schorle’ (sparkling water and fruit juice) and other soft drinks

• ‘Limonaden’ (water-based, flavoured carbonated soft drinks popular in Germany)

• Pressé drinks (ready-to-drink cordial drinks)