Written question asked by Tom Brake (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 14 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 September 2003. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2003 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what percentage of brands of bottled water are tested by the Drinking Water Inspectorate; what the frequency of testing is; and how many brands have failed these tests in each of the last six years.

Answer: Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of brands of bottled water are tested by the Drinking Water Inspectorate; what the frequency of testing is; and how many brands have failed these tests in each of the last six years. [126628] Miss Melanie Johnson: I have been asked to reply. I am advised by the Food Standards Agency that local authorities enforce the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 1999 (as amended) which specify the frequency of testing for each of the three forms of bottled water. No central information is held on the results of these tests. A survey of bottled waters published by the Food Standards Agency in August 2002 showed that none of the 161 samples tested for antimony, arsenic, nickel or bromate contained these substances above the limits in the regulations.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 126628; 409 c828-9W
Session: 2002-03
Subjects: Contamination Inspections Drinking water Drinking Water Inspectorate Quality control Standards Water Testing
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk