Aligning Serbian legislation with EU rules governing the quality, safety, bottling, labelling and placing on the market of natural mineral, spring and table water should contribute to greater health protection and better-informed consumers. The term “water in original packaging” refers to water supplied to consumers in the packaging in which it was filled by the producer.
The results of the support provided by the PLAC IV project to the Ministry of Health were discussed at the final workshop, “EU and National Legislation on Water in Original Packaging”, held on 23 September 2026 in Belgrade. The workshop presented the European and national regulatory frameworks, together with drafts of two rulebooks prepared under the auspices of the project.
The workshop was opened by Goran Stamenković of the Ministry of Health. Stamenković noted that this was the final workshop under this activity and thanked the project for its expert support and collegial cooperation. He particularly emphasised that the proposed Law in this area had already been submitted to the European Commission for its opinion in July 2026.
MORE PRECISE RULES ON WATER QUALITY, LABELLING AND PLACING ON THE MARKET
PLAC IV expert Prim. Dr Lenče Jovanovska presented the results of the work on aligning national legislation with the relevant EU legislation governing natural mineral, spring and table water. The project activity included an analysis of national legislation and secondary legislation, the preparation of draft rulebooks and tables of concordance, and recommendations for further alignment with the EU acquis.
The workshop presented the Draft Rulebook on the Safety and Quality of Water in Original Packaging, Labelling, Marking and Advertising, as well as the Draft Rulebook on the Conditions for the Exploitation, Recognition and Placing on the Market of Water in Original Packaging and the maintenance of the relevant Register.
The proposed rules define more precisely the safety and quality criteria, permitted water treatment processes and information that must be available to consumers. One important new development is a clearer distinction between the categories of water: natural mineral, spring and table water. In future, the term “natural” would be used only for natural mineral water, thereby reducing the potential for consumer confusion.
Jovanovska explained the importance of the new rules from the public’s perspective:
“The new legislation, aligned with EU standards for natural mineral, spring and table water, will certainly benefit consumers by imposing stricter safety and quality requirements, as well as more precise requirements for information used in labelling, marking and advertising, which must be complied with during production and placing on the market. This will reduce the likelihood of unsafe products appearing on supermarket shelves and the associated risks, as well as the possibility of certain products misleading the public. It will ensure that people are well informed about the products they buy, as the information on the label will enable them to choose the product that best meets their needs,” Jovanovska emphasised.
Particular attention was also paid to establishing a register of water in original packaging, annual monitoring and more precise regulation of distribution, so that products and the operators placing them on the market can be identified by the competent authorities and subject to control.
Aligning national legislation with EU standards in this area is part of Serbia’s accession process to the European Union and also has direct significance for the public. The aim is to ensure that water placed on the Serbian market meets clear quality and safety criteria, with the same level of consumer information and protection as on the EU market.
DID YOU KNOW?
Under Commission Directive 2003/40/EC, with which Serbian legislation in this area is being harmonized, natural mineral water containing more than 1.5 mg/l of fluoride must carry a clear warning that it is not suitable for regular consumption by infants and children under seven years of age.
The reason is the increased risk of fluorosis resulting from excessive fluoride intake, particularly among young children. The maximum permitted concentration of fluoride in natural mineral water is 5 mg/l.
Strict control at a natural mineral water bottling facility