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By the end of last year, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) carried out an extensive inspection of labelling of bottled waters that are on the Czech market. The main reason for the inspection was a recent amendment to the relevant Decree of the Ministry of Health, into which EU regulations have been incorporated. Some new requirements for bottled water labelling do not yet have a tradition in the Czech Republic and therefore, in addition to the inspection, CAFIA inspectors also provided basic information, particularly to smaller producers.

The Inspection Authority checked the labelling of 57 different bottled waters put on the Czech market by 36 producers or distributors. The most serious shortcoming the inspectors encountered was labelling of Přírodní kyselka Jesenička as “spring water”, which is allowable only if water is transported through pipes, although the producer (Jesenické minerální vody, s.r.o., Frýdek-Místek) transported the water from the source to the place of bottling in tanks. The sale of this water was banned.

In several other cases, compulsory information about the type of bottled water, the name of underground source of water, or about the content of carbon dioxide was lacking. In two cases, producers placed on the market spring water from one water source under different brand names, which the regulations do not allow, in several other cases, shelf life and storage conditions were lacking. A recommendation of the Czech Medical Chamber to use the water as intended for infants was indicated on one of the spring waters, although it contained more sodium than permitted. However, in the majority of cases, producers or distributors have already brought the labelling in line with the Decree.

The Inspection Authority imposed a measure on eleven producers or distributors to bring the labelling of bottled waters in line with the relevant regulations. Smaller producers were informed by the inspectors about changes the new Decree has brought.

The full wording of the Decree of the Ministry of Health No. 275/2004 Coll., on requirements for quality and safety of bottled waters and on the method of their treatment can be found at www.szpi.gov.cz in the Acts, Decrees Section.