89) The Committee recalled that the last session had considered this issue, following the adoption of the Standard for Natural Mineral Waters by the 22nd Session of the Commission, and had circulated the Limits for Certain Substances for further comments. The Committee discussed the levels of several contaminants in natural mineral waters. Many delegations expressed the view that the proposed levels for contaminants in natural mineral water were too high and that natural mineral waters should comply with the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (Volume 1, Recommendations, WHO, Geneva, 1993). Other delegations however considered that the composition of natural mineral waters was different according to the hydrology of the source and therefore different levels of contaminants may be justified.
90) The Delegation of Germany asked for the establishment of specific health related limits for certain substances in mineral water claimed to be suitable for infant food preparation.
91) The Committee agreed with the proposal of the Chairman to bring the levels of contaminants for natural mineral waters into line with the levels in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. The Health Related Limits for Certain Substances as amended are included in Appendix VI.
92) A number of delegations including Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, Tunisia and Switzerland did not agree with this decision for the reasons mentioned in para. 89 above.
