The term 'spring water' can only be used for waters which meet the requirements set out in legislation below.
- EU legislation
- national legislation
- general provisions and labelling
EU legislation
Directive 2009/54/EC (OJ L 164, p 45, 26.06.2009) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters
Directive 2003/40/EC (OJ L 126, p 34, 22.05.2003) of 16 May 2003 establishing the list, concentration limits and labelling requirements for the constituents of natural mineral waters and the conditions for using ozone-enriched air for the treatment of natural mineral waters and spring waters
Directive (EU) 2020/2184 (OJ L 435, p 1, 23.12.2020) of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption
National legislation
European Union (Natural Mineral Waters, Spring Waters and Other Waters in Bottles or Containers) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 282 of 2016) as amended by S.I. No. 691/2022
General Provisions and Labelling
The requirements for a water to use the term 'Spring Water' are set out in Article 9(4) of Directive 2009/54/EC on natural mineral waters. Spring water is a description reserved for water which is intended for consumption in its natural state, comes from an underground source, protected from all risk of pollution and is bottled at source. Only very limited treatments are permitted. Spring water must also comply with the rules on drinking water.
Spring water, like natural mineral water, is exempt from Section 3 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on the provision of food information to consumers, which sets out the requirements for the nutrition declaration.