Watercoolers Europe – European Guidelines
The WE Guidelines for Good Hygiene Practice – Bottled Water Coolers – Cleaning and Disinfection of Watercoolers, Reusable Bottles, Refiling and Distribution) were approved and endorsed by the EU Members States in their PAFF (Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food & Feed) Meeting in October 2023.
The WE Guidelines for Good Hygienic Practice for Distributors and Operators of Plumbed-in (POU – Point of Use) Watercoolers had already been approved and endorsed by the Member States in 2016.
A much longer time was needed for the work on the Guidelines for Bottled Water Coolers, reflected in the consideration of the existing Guidelines from NMWE (Natural Mineral Waters Europe), the Covid time and last, but not least, the revision of the relevant legislations after Brexit.
In accordance with the principles of Watercoolers Europe, these guidelines are intended to ensure that the highest standards are reached in the fields of quality, safety, hygiene, and ethical behaviour in the water cooler industry.
This aim can be achieved by ensuring that Bottlers, Distributors and Operators of Water Coolers are fully aware of their responsibilities to the environment and supply safe products and faultless services to their customers.
Within the meaning of Article 9 of European Regulation (EC) 852/2004, these guidelines for Good Hygienic Practice meet the objective of simplifying the application of the pertinent European legislation, particularly Regulation (EC) 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs.