30. 8. 80 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 229/1 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCH. DIRECTIVE of 15 July 1980 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the exploitation and marketing of natural mineral waters (80/777/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 100 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas the laws of the Member States define natural mineral waters; whereas differing definitions are adopted in this connection within the Community; whereas these laws lay down the terms on which natural mineral waters are recognized as such and govern the conditions for exploiting the springs; whereas they furthermore stipulate specific rules for marketing the waters in question; Whereas the differences between these laws hinder the free movement of the natural mineral waters, creating disparate competitive situations, and consequently directly affect the establishing and functioning of the common market; (1) OJ No C 69, 11. 6. 1970, p. 14. (3) OJ No C 45, 10. 5. 1971, p. 5. (3) O] No C 36, 19. 4. 1971, p. 14. Whereas, 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 recognized as such by each of the other member States and by laying down common rules concerning in particular the microbiological requirements to be fulfilled and the conditions in which specific names must be used for certain of the mineral waters; Whereas, pending the conclusion of agreements on mutual recognition of natural mineral waters between the Community and third countries, the terms should be " laid down on which, until implementation of the said agreements, similar products imported from third countries may be allowed to enter the Community as natural mineral waters, ' Whereas care should be taken to ensure that natural mineral waters retain at the marketing stage those characteristics which enabled them to be recognized as such; whereas, therefore, the containers used for packaging them should have suitable closures; Whereas, in respect of labelling, natural mineral waters are subject to the general rules laid down by Council Directive 79/112/EEC of 18 December 1978 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of