Classification of the water

The sale of bottled water in Denmark is regulated by “The order of natural mineral water, spring water and packaged water.” The rules are based on EU rules, and they are regulated and controlled by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. According to the Order, it is permitted to sell bottled water under the following terms.

• Natural mineral water
• Spring water
• Packaged water

What generally distinguishes the three designations is that natural mineral water and spring water come from a defined limited underground source. That is to say, one knows exactly where the water comes from. Packaged drinking water can come from several underground sources, but also from sources that are above ground. You can say that natural mineral and spring waters are from “known” sources” and packaged waters are from “anonymous” sources as the water can come from anywhere (eg. In a lake).

Read more about the classification of the mineral content here.

Read more about the classification of the carbon dioxide content here.

Natural mineral water

In order to be classified and marketed as natural mineral water, the water must comply with the following rules:

• The source must be approved by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.
• The source must come from a subterranean groundwater source or water layer protected from any form of pollution.
• The special feature of natural mineral water is its 1) natural nature, which is characterized by the water’s mineral content, micronutrients or other components and, in that case, by having certain effects and 2) its natural purity.
• The natural characteristics of the water must be preserved at the source as a result of the underground storage of the water, which protects against pollution.
• The water must be free of microbiological impurities.
• No natural mineral water treatment may be done as it occurs at the source. Exceptions are:
• 1) It is permitted to remove non-volatile iron and sulfur compounds. However, this must not result in a change in the essential components of the water.
• 2) It is permitted to remove any naturally-occurring carbon dioxide.
• 3) Adding carbon dioxide is allowed.
• The natural characteristics of the water (mineral content, temperature, pH level) must be constant over time and within the framework of natural fluctuations.
• The chemical and microbiological limit values mentioned in the law must not be exceeded.
• If microbiological impurities are detected, production must be stopped.
• Bottles and packaging containing natural mineral water must have a safety cap / closure that protects against contamination and counterfeiting.
• The product description is “natural mineral water.” If carbon dioxide is added or removed, it must be mentioned in the product name.
• Natural mineral water must also be labeled with information about 1) which minerals the water contains, 2) where the source is located and 3) the name of the source.
• It is permitted to use the source’s name, village name or local name of the source as the product name, as long as it is not misleading about the actual location of the source.
• If the water is ONLY to be sold in Denmark and countries outside the EU, it is allowed to transport the water from the source to the bottling plant.
• If the water is to be sold within the EU, it is a requirement that the water be tapped at the source and the water may only be transported from there in the final sales packaging.

Here is a list of approved natural mineral waters in the EU.

Spring water

Spring water, like natural mineral water, must comply with some set rules before it can be marketed as spring water:

• No source water treatment may be done as it occurs at source. Exceptions are:
• 1) It is permitted to remove non-volatile iron and sulfur compounds. However, this must not result in a change in the essential components of the water.
• 2) It is permitted to remove any naturally-occurring carbon dioxide.
• 3) Adding carbon dioxide is allowed.
• The natural characteristics of the water must be preserved at the source as a result of the source being protected from pollution.
• The water must be free from microbiological impurities.
• If microbiological impurities are detected, production must be stopped.
• The source location and the source’s name must appear on the label.
• It is permitted to use the source name, village name or local name of the source as the product name, as long as it is not misleading about the actual location of the source.
• Requirements are set for limit values for mineral content.
• Spring water producers must also carry out additional self-monitoring of the water quality, which is not required for natural mineral water.
• If the water ONLY has to be sold in Denmark and countries outside the EU, it is allowed to transport the water from the source to the bottling plant.
• If the water is to be sold in the EU, it is a requirement that the water be drained at the source and the water may only be transported from there in the final sales packaging.

The difference between mineral water and spring water

What separates natural mineral water and spring water is:

1. The natural characteristics of the water (mineral content, temperature, pH level) DO NOT need be constant over time.
2. The bottles DO NOT need be labeled with information on which minerals the water contains.
3. Spring water MUST comply with the same chemical parameters that apply to ordinary drinking water.

In addition, spring water producers must carry out additional self-control of the water quality, which is not required for natural mineral water.

Packaged drinking water/Table water

Packaged drinking water is water that does not comply with the regulations for natural mineral water or spring water, and which is packaged.

• Packaged drinking water does NOT have to come from an underground source.
• It MUST comply with rules for microbiological limit values that are exactly the same as for natural mineral water and spring water.
• Requirements are set for the limits of mineral content.
• The bottles DO NOT need to be labeled with information on which minerals the water contains.
• The manufacturer MUST observe certain rules in the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s “Executive Order No. 1310” on water quality and supervision of water supply systems.
• The water MUST comply with the same chemical parameters that apply to ordinary drinking water.
• Manufacturers must carry out additional self-control of the water quality.

Packaged drinking water can be ordinary tap water, which is bottled. However, it can also be natural water whose source is above ground and therefore cannot be classified as either natural mineral water or spring water. Furthermore, there is a lot of water that cannot be tapped at the source due to, among other things, 1) infrastructure, 2) environmental considerations and 3) a combination of both.

Read more about the classification of the mineral content here.

Read more about the classification of the carbon dioxide content here.