The Senate ratifies the creation of a commission of inquiry “ aimed at shedding light on the practices of bottled water manufacturers » following investigations by World and Radio France revealing in January 2024 that Nestlé Waters, number one in mineral water in the world, had deceived consumers for years.
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The Senate approved the creation of a commission of inquiry “ aimed at shedding light on the practices of bottled water manufacturers “, in particular on prohibited filtration processes, announced on the night of Wednesday to Thursday the rapporteur of this commission, Alexandre Ouizille.
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Namely targeted by the socialist senator: Nestlé Waters, owner of the Vittel and Perrier brands, which will pay, in agreement with the Epinal public prosecutor’s office, a fine of two million euros due to the use of unsuitable filtration treatments. authorized on mineral waters and drilling operations exploited without authorization. Facts revealed in particular in January by journalistic investigations by the World and of Radio Francewhich led the Epinal public prosecutor’s office to open a preliminary investigation.
The Alma group, leader in France in mineral and spring waters (Cristaline, Saint-Yorre, Vichy Célestins), had also indicated that it was the subject of a “ legal proceedings “. “ Each revelation brings up a new face: a major health dimension that asserts itself and an ecological threat to the resource that manifests itself », Estimates Alexandre Ouizille in a press release. “ We must publicly confront Nestlé Waters and all the other industrial players involved. »
Unauthorized water treatments
Filtration treatments, for example with UV lamps and activated carbon, are not dangerous for health, but are not permitted for mineral waters. The commission of inquiry opened by the Senate will aim in particular to “ examine all risks » linked to these treatments, and gauge “the knowledge that members of the government had of these practices”, indicates Alexandre Ouizille.
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The government was notified by Nestlé in 2021 of its use of prohibited treatments, according to the company. He then relaxed the regulations, and allowed manufacturers to use microfilters with a filtration threshold of less than 0.8 microns. The commission of inquiry will also look into “ the monopolization of sources by industrial players, and the potential impacts of this exploitation on the sustainability of resources », Promises the socialist senator from Oise.
Contacted by AFP, Nestlé Waters France announced its intention to “ cooperate fully » with this commission of inquiry, « as we have done in the past “. “ We reaffirm that all our waters are safe to drink » and that the activities of the subsidiary are “ are carried out in complete transparency with the authorities », adds the company.