GCC STANDARDIZATION ORGANIZATION (GSO)  
 
 
 
 
 
المشروع: نهائي  
 
 
GSO  05/FDS 987/2012 
 
 
 
 
 
Bottled natural mineral water 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prepared by: 
 Gulf technical committee for sector  standards of  
Food and agriculture products 
This document is a draft Gulf standard circulated for comments, it is therefore, subject to 
alteration and modification, and may not be referred as a Gulf standard, until approved by the 
Board of Directors. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ICS:  13.060.10    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bottled natural mineral water 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date of GSO Board of Directors' Approval :  / /14 h ( / /20 )  
Issuing Status : Technical regulations 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GSO 987/20 12 GULF  STANDARD  
 
 1 Foreword  
 
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional Org anization which consists of the 
National Standards Bodies of GCC member States. One of GSO main functions is to issue 
Gulf Standards /Technical regulation s through specialized technical committees (TCs).  
 
GSO through the technical program of committee TC No.( 5) " Gulf technical committee for 
standards of food and agriculture products"  has updated the GSO Standard No.  GSO 
987/2000  "Bottled  natural mineral water ". The Draft Standard has been prepared by (STATE 
OF QATAR) . 
The draft Standard has been prepared based on relevant ADMO, International and National 
foreign Standards and references.  
 
This standard has been approved as a Gulf Technical Regulation  by GSO Board of Directors  
in its meeting No.(  ), held on  / /14 h ( / /20 G) . The approved standard will r eplace and 
supersede the GSO standard No. ( GSO 987/200 7)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                 
  GSO 987/20 12 GULF  STANDARD  
 
 2 Bottled natural mineral water 
 
1- Scope and field of application:  
 This Gulf standard is concerned with bottled natural    mineral  water  offered for  sale 
as food product. It  doesn't apply  to natural mineral water sold or used for other 
purposes.  
 
2-  Complementary Standards:  
2.1 GSO (9): "Labeling of prepackaged foodstuffs".  
 2.2  GSO (21):"Hygienic regulations for food plants and their personnel ".  
2.3  GSO (111): " Methods of test for drinking and mineral water – part1:  Sampling ".  
2.4  GSO (112): " Methods of test for drinking and mineral water - part2:  
Determination of  physical properties".  
2.5  GSO (116):" Methods of test for drinking and miner al water - part3:  Determination 
of total dissolved solids, PH value and residual chlorine"".  
2.6  GSO (117): " Methods of test for drinking water – part4:  Methods of determination 
of cadmium , lead, arsenic, selenium and cyanide".  
 GSO (150 ): "Expiration  dates for food products ".  
2.8  GSO (154): "Methods of test for drinking and mineral water -part7:  Determination 
of mercury, chromium, silver and barium.  
2.9  GSO (168): "Requirements for storage facilities for dry and canned foodstuff".  
2.10  GSO (257) "Methods of test for drinking water –part10:  Determination of mineral 
oils".  
2.11  GSO (378):" Methods of test for drinking water - part13:  Routine microbiological  
                  tests (reference method)".  
2.12  GSO (379): " Methods of test for drink ing water - part14:  Determination of some  
                  pollution indicating materials".  
2.13  GSO (642): " Methods of test for drinking water – part6:  Determination of nitrate, 
fluoride and borate".  
2.14  GSO (818)  : " Methods of test for drinkin g water – part15:  n -routine 
microbiological tests ".  
2.15  GSO (839):"Food packages -Part1: General requirements".  
2.16           GSO (988)" Limits of radioactivity levels permitted in food stuffs - Part 1".  
2.17  GSO (998 ):"Methods for detection of permis sible radionuclide's limits in foodstuff -         
Part 1: Gamma spectrometry analysis CS134, CS 137".  GSO 987/20 12 GULF  STANDARD  
 
 3 2.18          GSO 353"  Methods of test for drinking water - Part 13: Determination of radioactive 
and concentration of some radio elements".  
2.19  GSO (101 6):" Microbiological criteria for foodstuff - part1"  
2.20  GSO (1025):"Bottled drinking water".  
2.21  GSO / CAC/GL 2:"Guidelines on nutrition labeling".  
2.22  GSO/CAC/GL 1 "General guidelines on claims"  . 
2.23 GSO which the Organiz ation shall approve concerne d with " Code of practice for 
collecting , processing and marketing natural mineral water ". 
 
3-  Definitions:  
3.1  Natural mineral water:   
                 A type of water clearly distinguishable from   ordinary drinking water (item 2.1 9) as 
follows:   
3.1.1  It is obtained directly from natural or drilled sources as part of   underground water 
bearing strata, for which due precautions should be taken to avoid possible pollution 
affecting it's chemical and physical properties.  
3.1.2  Its content s are some min eral salts with relative proportions, besid e elements  other 
constituents.  
3.1.3  The constancy of its composition and stability of its discharge and its temperature. 
Due care should be taken regarding the cycles of the natural fluctuations.  
3.1.4  It is normally produced under conditions likely to guarantee the original 
microbiological purity and sound chemical composition of its basic components.  
3.1.5  It should not be  subject to any treatment other than those permitted as per this 
standard.  
3.1.6  It is packed in hermetical containers closed to the point of emergence of the source 
with particular hygienic precautions.  
3.1.7  Its characteristics comply with all the laid -down requirements as per this standard.  
 
3.2  Naturally c arbonated natural mineral wa ter (effervescent):  Is a natural mineral 
water which, after treatment as per item (4.1.2)  and reincorporation of gas from the 
same source  and after packaging  taken into consideration usual technical tolerance , 
has  the same content of carbon dioxide gas spontaneously and visibly given off 
under normal conditions of temperature and pressure  
 
3.3   Non-carbonated natural mineral water (un -effervescent):  Is a natural mineral 
which doesn't contain free carbon dioxide (naturally or from treatment as per 
specifi cation in item (4.1.2), with due consideration to the permissible technical 
tolerance) with amount in excess of the amount necessary to keep the hydrogen 
carbonate salts present  in the water dissolved.  
 GSO 987/20 12 GULF  STANDARD  
 
 4 3.4  De-carbonated natural mineral water : Is a natur al mineral water which, after 
treatment as per item (4.1. 2) and after packaging, has less carbon dioxide gas 
content than that  at emergence  and does not visibly spontaneously give off carbon 
dioxide  under natural conditions of temperature and pressure.  
 
3.5          Natural mineral water fortified with carbon dioxide from the source:  Is a natural 
mineral water which, after treatment as per item (4.1.2) and after packaging, has 
more carbon dioxide content than that at emergence.  
 
3.6         Carbonated natu ral mineral water : Is a natural mineral water which, after treatment 
as per item (4.1.2) and after packaging, has been made effervescent by the addition 
of carbon dioxide from another origin.  
 
3.7            Authorization: A certificate issue by the concer ned authorities in the state , in which 
the natural mineral water has emerged.    
  
4 -  Characteristics:  
 The following characteristics shall be met in bottled natural mineral water:  
4.1  Physical characteristics:   
4.1.1  It shall be free from color, odor,  impurities, turbidity, and from unpleasant taste.  
4.1.2  The following treatment may  only be carried out on natural  mineral  water prior to 
packaging:   
4.1.2.1  Separation of suspended constituents such as compounds containing iron, 
manganese, sulfur or ar senic, by decantation and/or filtration, if necessary, 
accelerated by previous aeration.  
4.1.2.2  The treatment provided for in items(3.2,3.3, 3.4 ,3.5, 3.6, 4.1.2.1 ) shall be applicable 
only on condition that the mineral content of water is not modified i n terms of its 
basic constituents which give the mineral water its natural properties.   
 4.2.  Total dissolved solids: - 
4.2.1  Natural mineral water with very low mineral content: Total content of dissolved 
solids is below 50 mg/L.  
4.2.2  Natural mineral water with low mineral content: Total content of dissolved solids is 
ranging from50 -500 mg/L.  
4.2.3  Natural  mineral water rich with mineral content: Total content of dissolved solids is 
ranging from500 -1500 mg/L.  
 
4.3  Health related limits for given subs tances:   
4.3.1  Natural mineral water shall contain  minerals within the permitted  limits given 
against each element as follows: -  
 
 
 
 GSO 987/20 12 GULF  STANDARD  
 
 5  
Maximum limits for mineral elements in natural mineral water  
 
 
4.3.2  It shall be free  from the following substances:   
 - Surface active agents.  
 - Pesticides and PCBs.  
 - Mineral oils.  
 - Poly-nuclear aromatic h ydrocarbons.  
 
4.4  Microbiological characteristics:  
 The product, during marketing,  shall comply with microbiological requirements 
stated in the Gulf Standard mentioned in item (2.1 9). 
 
4.5  Radiological characteristics:  
  The radioactivity levels of the product shall not exceed to what mentioned in Gulf 
Standard stated in Item (2.16). 
 
5.  Hygienic requirements:  
 Without prejudice to what was stated in the Gulf Standard mentioned in Items (2.2, 
2.23) the following  condition should  be met: - 
5.1   The insta llation intended for collection of water, pipes and the reservoirs shall  be 
made from materials suited to the water and in such a way as to prevent the 
introduction of foreign substances into the water.   
Substance           
    Maximum permitted  limits ( mg/L) 
          
 Calculated as  
- Antimony  
          - Arsenic  
-     - Barium  
-     - Borate  
    - Cadmium  
    - Chromium  
- Copper  
- Cyanide  
- Fluoride  
- Lead  
- Manganese  
- Mercury  
- Nickel  
- Nitrate  
- Nitrite   
- Selenium  
  0.005  
0.01 
0.7 
5  
0.003  
0.05 
1  
0.07 
See Item 5.9  
0.01 
0.4 
0.001  
0.02 
50.0 
0.01 
0.01  
As total As  
 
As B  
 
As total Cr  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
as nitrate  
as nitrite  GSO 987/20 12 GULF  STANDARD  
 
 6 5.2   The equipments and its use for production, especially installations for washing and 
packaging, shall meet hygienic requirements.  
5.3  All processes in the factory shall be stopped if contamination of water has been 
detected during the production, until the removal of contamination.  
5.4  The source and water outflow points shall be protected from contamination hazards.  
5.5  The previous regulations shall be subject to control and periodical check by 
authorized bodies.  
 
6.  Sampling:  
 Samples shall be taken in accordance with the Gulf Standard stated i n item (2.3).  
 
7.  Methods of examination and testing:  
 Tests shall be carried out as per the Gulf Standards stated in items (2.4), (2.5), (2.6), 
(2.8), (2.10), (2.11), (2.12),  (2.13),  (2.14), (2.1 7). 
 
8.  Packing, Transportation and Storage:  
 The followi ng shall be met during the packaging, transportation and storage of the 
product : 
 
8.1  Packaging:   
8.1.1  The containers used in the packaging shall be made from materials non -hazardous 
for health, clean, sterilized and shall not lead to any objectionable c hange in taste, 
odor or color characteristics of natural mineral water, and shall comply with what 
has been stated in the Gulf Standard mentioned in item (2.15).  
8.1.2  The containers shall be brand new and not previously used and shall be free from       
various processing defects.  
  
8.2  Transportation:  
8.2.1  The containers shall be transported in carton boxes or any other means not leading 
to damage or spoilage during transportation or handling.  
8.2.2  Transportation means shall be provided to  in the co ntainers against contamination 
and shall be not  previously used in transportation of insecticides, fungicides or any 
toxic or harmful substances.  
8.2.3  The transportation of natural mineral water in bulk containers for packaging or for 
any other process b efore packaging is prohibited.  
 
8.3  Storage : 
 The stocks shall be stored in well - ventilated stores at a temperature that wouldn't 
cause any undesirable change in the product and shall be far from the sources of GSO 987/20 12 GULF  STANDARD  
 
 7 heat and contamination. The stores  shall c omply with what has been stated in the 
Gulf Standard mentioned in item (2.9).  
 
9.  Labeling : 
 With out prejudice to what has been mentioned in the Gulf Standards stated in items 
(2.1), (2.7) , (2.19), (2.2 1), the following  shall be labeled on the  label of t he 
container:  
9.1  The name of the product: " Bottled n atural mineral water".  
9.2  The type of the water according to what has been stated in items (3.2) to (3. 6). 
9.3             Description of the water shall be add to the name of the product according t o the 
total dissolved solids content as mentioned in Item (4.2).  
9.4  Location and the name of  water source  if different than location.  
9.5 Permissible natural treatments to  which bottled natural mineral  water has been 
submitted.  
9.6  Where the product con tains more than 1 mg/l of fluoride, the statement "the product 
contains fluoride" shall appear as part of, or in close proximity to the name of the 
product.  
         In addition, the statement "the product is not suitable for infants and children under 
age of seven years" when the product contains more than 1.5 mg/ l fluoride .  
9.7            Analytical composition of the product characteristics.   
 
9.8  prohibited information:  
9.8.1  It is prohibited to write down any statement concerning medical (preventive -     
alleviate - curative) in accordance with product characteristics stated in this 
standard.  
 9.8.2  The name of locality, village or specified location  may not form a part of the trade 
name of the product; unless it refers to a natural mineral water col lected at the place 
designated as per the trade name.  
9.8.3  Any statement or any pictorial device which may lead to confusion to the consumer 
about the nature, origin, composition and properties of water.  
 
9.9  Optional labeling:  
9.9.1  Trade name.  
9.9.2  Date of licensing.