MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Improving drinking water quality and checking the safety of plastic packaging – E-000648/2025(ASW)

1. The recast Drinking Water Directive[1], which had to be transposed into national law by January 2023, sets quality standards for bottled spring waters when the water is put into the bottles, ensuring that the initial water quality is guaranteed. The Natural Mineral Waters Directive[2] aims to ensure the protection of consumer’s health, preventing them from being misled and ensuring fair trading.

2. The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation[3] sets requirements for substances in packaging. It limits the use of certain hazardous substances[4] on food contact packaging materials, including those used for bottled water to ensure they do not pose a risk to human health. The placing on the market of food contact materials (FCM) and articles is governed in the EU by Regulation No 1935/2004[5]. Regulation (EU) No 10/2011[6] establishes a list of substances permitted for use in the manufacture of plastic packaging materials in contact with foods, including bottled water. Regulation (EU) No 2022/1616[7] sets strict safety requirements for using recycled plastic in FCM. Furthermore, Regulation (EU) 2017/625[8] requires that Member States conduct official controls for the verification of compliance of food and food packaging.

3. The main aim of the recast Drinking Water Directive is to ensure access to clean drinking water. It includes new provisions on substances of concern such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, microplastics and endocrine disruptors. The directive promotes the use of tap water by ensuring that outdoor and indoor equipment is set up in public spaces and encourages the provision of tap water, for instance in restaurants.

• [1] Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2020 on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast), OJ L 435, 23.12.2020, p. 1-62.
• [2] Directive 2009/54/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 June 2009 on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters (Recast), OJ L 164, 26.6.2009, p. 45-58.
• [3] Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC, OJ L, 2025/40, 22.1.2025.
• [4] Article 5 of the (EU) 2025/40 limits in food contact packaging the use of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and concentrations levels of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium (
• [5] Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food and repealing Directives 80/590/EEC and 89/109/EEC, OJ L 338, 13.11.2004, p. 4-17.
• [6] Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 of 14 January 2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, OJ L 12, 15.1.2011, p. 1-89.
• [7] Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 of 15 September 2022 on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foods, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 282/2008, OJ L 243, 20.9.2022, p. 3-46.
• [8] Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products, OJ L 137, 24.5.2017, p. 40.