Regulatory advice

To import natural mineral water into the EU from an outside third country, recognition must be obtained from an EU country. Zenith Global were commissioned to carry out two natural mineral water recognitions for a water bottler outside the EU.

As part of the recognition process within the EU, assessments of the local and regional hydrogeology, source infrastructure, abstraction records and historic water quality were required. Zenith Global also carried out a site visit to identify potential vulnerabilities and risks to the source as well as the surrounding land-use and operational activities present within the groundwater catchment. Throughout the recognition process, regular liaison with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was maintained, as the authorising body within the United Kingdom.

Zenith Global successfully guided our client through the recognition process in a timely manner to enable them to act on their export plans. Based on the project success we were engaged to carry out a second recognition process on another source operated by the client. We have subsequently assisted this client with new source development and other regulatory advice.