Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia › Department 40 - RULES OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE › Chapter 40-7 - FOOD DIVISION REGULATIONS › Subject 40-7-6 - ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS APPLICABLE TO COMMERCIALLY BOTTLED WATER AND WATER VENDING MACHINES › Rule 40-7-6-.10 - Labeling Requirements

Current through Rules and Regulations filed through June 27, 2024
All bottled water shall conform to applicable federal and
				  state labeling laws and be labeled in compliance with the following
				  standards:
(a) Mineral water may be
				labeled "Mineral Water". Bottled water to which minerals are added shall be
				labeled so as to disclose that minerals are added, and may not be labeled
				"Natural Mineral Water" or "Mineral Water" unqualified.
(b) Spring water may be labeled "Spring
				Water" or "Natural Spring Water".
(c) Water containing carbon dioxide that
				emerges from the source and is bottled directly with its entrapped gas or from
				which the gas mechanically separated and later reintroduced at a level not
				higher than naturally occurring in the water may bear on its label the words
				"Naturally Sparkling".
(d) Bottled
				water which contains carbon dioxide other than that naturally occurring in the
				source of the product shall be labeled with the words "Carbonated",
				"Carbonation Added", or "Sparkling" when the carbonation is obtained from a
				natural or manufactured source.
(e)
				Well water may be labeled "Well Water", or "Natural Well Water".
(f) Artesian water may be labeled "Artesian
				Water", or "Natural Artesian Water".
(g) Purified Water shall be labeled "Purified
				Water", and the method of preparation shall be stated on the label, except that
				purified water produced by distillation may be labeled as "Distilled
				Water".
(h) Drinking water may be
				labeled "Drinking Water".
(i) Any
				bottler, distributor or vendor of bottled water whose corporate name, brand
				name or trademark contains the words "Spring", "Well", "Artesian", "Mineral",
				"Natural", or any derivative of those words shall label each bottle with the
				type of bottled water as defined in Rule
				40-7-6-.01 in typeface at least equal
				to the size of the typeface of the corporate name, brand name, or trademark, if
				the type of bottled water is different from the type of stated or implied in
				the corporate name, brand name or trademark.
(j) The use of the word, "Spring", or any
				derivative thereof, other than in a trademark, trade name, or company name to
				describe water that is not spring water as defined herein shall be prohibited.
				Any water which meets the definition of "spring water" as defined herein may be
				labeled, sold, advertised, and otherwise represented as "springwater", or
				"natural spring water", such "spring water" collected through a borehole as
				provided by Rule
				40-7-6-.01(14) shall
				not require any disclaimer in connection with such labeling, sale,
				advertisement, or representation or require such water to be additionally
				identified as any other type of water. Other descriptive words or terms
				intended to distinguish between "spring water" which flows naturally to the
				surface of the earth and "spring water" collected at the spring through a
				borehole shall not be allowed.
(k)
				A product meeting more than one definition as stated in Rule
				40-7-6-.01 may be identified by any
				of the applicable product types defined in said rule except where otherwise
				specifically prohibited.
(l)
				Supplemental printed information and graphics concerning recognized uses of the
				water may appear on the label, but shall not imply properties of the product or
				preparation methods which are not factual. Point of sale materials, promotional
				brochures and the like, all considered label extensions, shall comply with all
				applicable label requirements.
(m)
				No health claims are permitted.
(n)
				The term, "spring" or "spring water" shall not be used as brand names on
				labels, unless the water source meets the definition of Rule
				40-7-6-.01(14). The
				use of the word, "spring" to describe water that is not spring water as defined
				herein shall be prohibited (such as, but not limited to, "Spring Fresh",
				"Spring Brand," and "Spring Type").
Ga. L. 1937-38, Extra
				  Session p. 332; Ga. L. 1956 as amended; O.C.G.A. Sec.
				  26-2-1
et
				  seq.