STANDARD FOR NATURAL MINERAL WATERSCXS 108-1981
Adopted in 1981. Revised in 1997, 2008. Amended in 2001, 2011, 2019.

CXS 108-1981
1.

2SCOPE
This Standard applies to all packaged natural mineral waters offered for sale as food. It does not apply tonatural mineral waters sold or used for other purposes.

2.

DESCRIPTION

2.1

Definition of natural mineral water
Natural mineral water is a water clearly distinguishable from ordinary drinking water because:

2.2a)

it is characterized by its content of certain mineral salts and their relative proportions and thepresence of trace elements or of other constituents;b)

it is obtained directly from natural or drilled sources from underground water bearing strata for which
all possible precautions should be taken within the protected perimeters to avoid any pollution of, or
external influence on, the chemical and physical qualities of natural mineral water;c)of the constancy of its composition and the stability of its discharge and its temperature, due accountbeing taken of the cycles of minor natural fluctuations;d)

it is collected under conditions which guarantee the original microbiological purity and chemicalcomposition of essential components;e)

it is packaged close to the point of emergence of the source with particular hygienic precautions;f)

it is not subjected to any treatment other than those permitted by this Standard.

Supplementary definitions

2.2.1 Naturally carbonated natural mineral water
A naturally carbonated natural mineral water is a natural mineral water which, after possible treatment inaccordance with Section 3.1.1 and re-incorporation of gas from the same source and after packaging taking
into consideration usual technical tolerance, has the same content of carbon dioxide spontaneously andvisibly given off under normal conditions of temperature and pressure.
2.2.2 Non-carbonated natural mineral water
A non-carbonated natural mineral water is a natural mineral water which, by nature and after possible
treatment in accordance with Section 3.1.1 and after packaging taking into consideration usual technicaltolerance, does not contain free carbon dioxide in excess of the amount necessary to keep the hydrogencarbonate salts present in the water dissolved.
2.2.3 Decarbonated natural mineral water
A decarbonated natural mineral is a natural mineral water which, after possible treatment in accordancewith Section 3.1.1 and after packaging, has less carbon dioxide content than that at emergence and does not
visibly and spontaneously give off carbon dioxide under normal conditions of temperature and pressure.
2.2.4 Natural mineral water fortified with carbon dioxide from the source
A natural mineral water fortified with carbon dioxide from the source is a natural mineral water which,after possible treatment in accordance with Section 3.1.1 and after packaging, has more carbon dioxide
content than that at emergence.
2.2.5 Carbonated natural mineral water
A carbonated natural mineral water is a natural mineral water which, after possible treatment inaccordance with Section 3.1.1 and after packaging, has been made effervescent by the addition of carbon
dioxide from another origin.
2.3

Authorization
Natural mineral water should be recognized as such by the responsible authority of the state, in which thenatural mineral water has emerged.

3.

COMPOSITION AND QUALITY FACTORS

3.1

Treatment and handling

3.1.1 Treatments permitted include separation from unstable constituents, such as compounds containing iron,manganese, sulphur or arsenic, by decantation and/or filtration, if necessary, accelerated by previousaeration.

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3.1.2 The treatments provided for in Sections 2.2.1, 2.2.2, 2.2.3, 2.2.4, 2.2.5 and 3.1.1 above may only be carriedout on condition that the mineral content of the water is not modified in its essential constituents, which give
the water its properties.
3.1.3 The transport of natural mineral waters in bulk containers for packaging or for any other process before
packaging is prohibited.
3.2

Health-related limits for certain substances
Natural mineral water in its packaged state shall contain not more than the following amounts of thesubstances indicated hereunder:

3.2.1 Antimony

0.005 mg/l

3.2.2 Arsenic

0.01 mg/l, calculated as total As

3.2.3 Barium

0.7 mg/l1

3.2.4 Borate

5 mg/l, calculated as B

3.2.5 Cadmium

0.003 mg/l

3.2.6 Chromium

0.05 mg/l, calculated as total Cr

3.2.7 Copper

1 mg/l3.2.8 Cyanide

0.07 mg/l

3.2.9 Fluoride

See section 6.3.2

3.2.10 Lead

0.01 mg/l

3.2.11 Manganese

0.4 mg/l

3.2.12 Mercury

0.001 mg/l

3.2.13 Nickel

0.02 mg/l

3.2.14 Nitrate

50 mg/l, calculated as nitrate

3.2.15 Nitrite

0.1 mg/l as nitrite

3.2.16 Selenium

0.01 mg/l

The following substances shall be below the limit of quantification 2 when tested, in accordance with themethods prescribed in Section 7:
3.2.17 Surface active agents
3.2.18 Pesticides and PCBs
3.2.19 Mineral oil
3.2.20 Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
4.

FOOD ADDITIVESNo additives except for the addition of carbon dioxide to produce carbonated products.

5.

HYGIENE

5.1

It is recommended that the products covered by the provisions of this Standard be prepared in accordancewith the applicable sections of the General Principles of Food Hygiene (CXC 1-1969), and in accordancewith the Code of Practice for the Collecting, Processing and Marketing of Natural Mineral Waters (CXC 331985).

5.2

The source or the point of emergence shall be protected against risks of pollution.

12Pending further review of new scientific evidence by an appropriate scientific body to be determined byFAO/WHO.
As stated in the relevant ISO methods.

CXS 108-1981
5.3

5.4

4

The installations intended for the production of natural mineral waters shall be such as to exclude any
possibility of contamination. For this purpose, and in particular:a)the installations for collection, the pipes and the reservoirs shall be made from materials suited to thewater and in such a way as to prevent the introduction of foreign substances into the water;b)the equipment and its use for production, especially installations for washing and packaging, shallmeet hygienic requirements;c)if, during production it is found that the water is polluted, the producer shall stop all operations until
the cause of pollution is eliminated;d)the observance of the above provisions shall be subject to periodic checks in accordance with therequirements of the country of origin.

Microbiological requirements
During marketing, natural mineral water should conform to the microbiological criteria as defined in Annex Iof the Code of Hygienic Practice for Collecting, Processing and Marketing of Natural Mineral Waters(CXC 33-1985).

6.

PACKAGING
Natural mineral water shall be packed in hermetically sealed retail containers suitable for preventing thepossible adulteration or contamination of water.

7.

LABELLING
In addition to the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods (CXS 1-1985), the following
provisions shall apply:

7.1

The name of the product7.1.1 The name of the product shall be “natural mineral water”.
7.1.2 The following designations shall be used in accordance with Section 2.2 and may be accompanied bysuitable descriptive terms (e.g., still and sparkling):

7.2



Naturally carbonated natural mineral water;Non-carbonated natural mineral water;Decarbonated natural mineral water;Natural mineral water fortified with carbon dioxide from the source;Carbonated natural mineral water.

Name and address
The location of the source and the name of the source shall be declared.

7.3

Additional labelling requirements

7.3.1 Chemical composition
The analytical composition giving characteristics to the product shall be declared in the labelling.
7.3.2 If the product contains more than 1 mg/l of fluoride, the following term shall appear on the label as part of, orin close proximity to, the name of the product or in an otherwise prominent position: “contains fluoride”. Inaddition, the following sentence should be included on the label: “The product is not suitable for infants andchildren under the age of seven years” where the product contains more than 1.5 mg/l fluorides.
7.3.3 If a natural mineral water has been submitted to a treatment in accordance with sub-section 3.1.1, the resultof the treatment shall be declared on the label.
7.4

Labelling prohibitions

7.4.1 No claims concerning medicinal (preventative, alleviative or curative) effects shall be made in respect of theproperties of the product covered by the Standard. Claims of other beneficial effects related to the health ofthe consumer shall not be made unless true and not misleading.
7.4.2 The name of the locality, hamlet or specified place may not form part of the trade name unless it refers to anatural mineral water collected at the place designated by that trade name.

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7.4.3 The use of any statement or of any pictorial device which may create confusion in the mind of the public or inany way mislead the public about the nature, origin, composition and properties of natural mineral waters put
on sale is prohibited.
8.

METHODS OF ANALYSIS AND SAMPLING
See relevant Codex texts on methods of analysis and sampling.