26.6.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 164/45 DIRECTIVE 2009/54/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 June 2009 on the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters (Recast) (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 95 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), Acting in accordance with procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3, Whereas: (1) Council Directive 80/777/EEC of 15 July 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters (°) has been substantially amended several times (*). Since further amendments are to be made, it should be recast in the interests of clarity. (2)  The laws of the Member States define natural mineral waters. Those laws lay down the terms on which natural mineral waters are recognised as such and govern the conditions for exploiting springs. They furthermore prescribe specific rules for marketing the waters in question. (3)  The differences between those laws hinder the free movement of natural mineral waters, creating disparate competitive situations, and consequently directly affect the functioning of the internal market. (4)  In this particular case, the elimination of these barriers may be achieved both by an obligation on each Member State to allow the marketing in its territory of the natural mineral waters recognised as such by each of the other Member States and by laying down common rules concerning in particular the microbiological requirements (1) OJ C 162, 25.6.2008, p. 87. (%) Opinion of the European Parliament of 23 September 2008 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and Council Decision of 28 May 2009. () OJ L 229, 30.8.1980, p. 1. (*) See Annex IV, Part A. (10) () ©) O] 0] to be fulfilled and the conditions in which specific names must be used for certain of the mineral waters. The primary purposes of any rules on natural mineral waters should be to protect the health of consumers, to prevent consumers from being misled and to ensure fair trading. Pending the conclusion of agreements on mutual recog- nition of natural mineral waters between the Community and third countries, the terms should be laid down on which, until implementation of those agreements, similar products imported from third countries may be allowed to enter the Community as natural mineral waters. Care should be taken to ensure that natural mineral waters retain at the marketing stage those characteristics which enabled them to be recognised as such. Therefore, the containers used for packaging them should have suitable closures. In respect of labelling, natural mineral waters are subject to the general rules laid down by Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs (°). Accordingly, this Directive may be limited to laying down the additions and derogations which should be made to those general rules. The inclusion of the statement of the analytical compo- sition of a natural mineral water should be compulsory in order to ensure that consumers are informed. The measures necessary for the implementation of this Directive should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission (°). L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29. L 184, 17.7.1999, p. 23.