The Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (specifications) stated that all producers and importers of drinking water in the UAE are subject to effective control mechanisms, to control the production and import operations, and the circulation of drinking water during the various stages, and to determine the responsibilities of the competent authorities in the country.
“The general principle regarding health claims regarding the benefits of water for drinking water companies is to provide scientific evidence from accredited health authorities to prove any health claim,” she added, explaining that all bottled water products are subject to registration procedures. UAE Drinking Water Control System.
For their part, consumers said that some companies put on their products different and strange specifications, and some related to the health aspects, which raises questions about the accuracy of these specifications, and the commitment of companies to them, and asked the regulatory authorities to verify them.
Trademarks
In detail, consumer Amina Abdullah said that she had noticed a large number of brands of drinking water on the market, and that some of them write different and odd specifications raised questions about their accuracy and commitment of companies.
She explained that one company wrote, for example, that the water comes from one volcano, and another company wrote that the source of water from high mountains, wondering the extent of control over these companies, especially since a large number of foreign companies, to verify the validity of these specifications.
Said Said Al-Hajri, said that a large number of water companies operating in the market, and the great competition among them, led companies to write specifications related to health to attract consumers, and elaborated on the importance and advantages of this water, which left consumers confused about the validity of these specifications, And the extent of commitment to them.
Al-Hajri explained that companies talked about water (alkaline), and other sodium-free, and third non (carbonization) and other, wondering the extent of adherence to specifications, and control of these companies to protect consumers, and maintain their health and safety.
The consumer, Raif Hussein, said that there is a great diversity of drinking water in the markets, and there are specifications that raised questions of consumers, especially as some companies talked about health benefits, and others talked about the water from very high or very low sources, what Raised the desire of consumers to verify these specifications written on the packaging.
Field trip
In addition, a tour of the Emirates Today, in outlets and cooperatives, showed that the drinking water market includes two main types of water: bottled drinking water and mineral drinking water, and that local and foreign companies have offered drinking water with many different specifications, some of which are at higher prices. , As a more healthy or from certain sources.
These include: sodium-free water (zero sodium), low-sodium, non-fluoride, non-carburizing nitrate-free, containing essential elements of the body as well as low-mineral water. Distilled with mineral elements, alkaline water and «electrolyte» (ie electrolyte solution).
Water sources also varied, according to the label, from water from mountains at high altitudes, to water coming from springs, and other water from volcanoes, and was characterized by prices higher than other water prices.
Bottled water
Dr. Yousef Al Saadi, Director of Conformity Affairs at Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, said: “The locally produced and imported bottled drinking water, in addition to mineral drinking water, is subject to a comprehensive quality assurance system, which requires an evaluation and field inspection of the facility. “To ensure the effective application of quality systems, the product meets the requirements and requirements of the relevant specifications, after which a certificate of conformity and licensing using the UAE quality mark for the product is granted for a period of three years.”
Al-Saadi told Emirates Today that it is not allowed to trade any products in the drinking water sector unless they are compliant with the UAE's mandatory drinking water control system, in order to ensure the best standards and practices that protect public health and support the national economy.
In this regard, he explained that all producers and suppliers of drinking water in the UAE are subject to technical standard requirements for drinking water, and effective control mechanisms to control the production, import and circulation of drinking water during the various stages, and to determine the responsibilities of the competent authorities in the country. Bottled, electrical equipment and appliances, filters used with drinking water, pipes, valves and fittings used for drinking water, tanks, tanks, transport vehicles and distribution of drinking water.
The Director of the Compliance Department in the Authority explained that with regard to health claims about the benefits of water of any kind, the general principle in the claim is to provide scientific evidence from accredited health authorities, to prove any health claim, pointing out that there is an emphasis in this aspect for Bottled drinking water, as indicated in the relevant product specifications, all products are subject to registration procedures in accordance with the “UAE drinking water control system”, in addition to the presence of the UAE quality mark on all drinking water bottles, pointing out that some other products are subject to a model Examination of the model, where the certification is granted Bug, without mandatory UAE quality marking on their products.
337 factories and suppliers
Dr. Yousef Al-Saadi, Director of Conformity Affairs at Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, said: “The total number of water production and bottling companies registered in the country, including the number of local factories and external suppliers in the field of water production and bottling, registered in the Authority's database since the application of the UAE system. To control the drinking water until this month, reached 337 factories and suppliers ».