Norway and Iceland must improve water quality, says EFTA
A review into European Economic Area (EEA) compliance found that drinking water in the two countries was satisfactory in general but there was a need for improvement.
It added that for some food business operators, the quality of water in food business undertakings was not regularly monitored in accordance with the requirements.
Norway analysis
The previous mission to Norway on quality of water was carried out in November 2007 and since then there have been some improvements.
EFTA said the main needs for improvement are:
- transposition of requirements laid down in EEA legislation into the national legal order
- regular monitoring of the quality of water by the competent authority, for all water intended for human consumption
- Guarantees that only potable water is used in food producing establishments
- All relevant information concerning potable water should be available to the public and the authority
Mixed Iceland findings
In Iceland, the authority found improvements in comparison to the mission carried out in 2007.
EFTA said it was “concerned” about the lack of coordination and cooperation between the Icelandic competent authorities.
EFTA said the main needs for improvement are:
- transposition of all requirements in the EEA legislation concerning potable water into the Icelandic internal legal order
- appropriate reporting of relevant parameters by official laboratories
- implementation of all the requirements in the field of water policy
- supply of all relevant information concerning potable water to the authority and to the public
- fulfilment of the requirements related to potable water in all food-production undertaking
- registration and approval of food business operators and their implementation of the hazard analysis critical control points principles
During the visit to two bottling water facilities, the analysis carried out by one of the laboratories, revealed that for audit monitoring, E. coli, Enterococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosathe parametric value was based on 100ml instead of 250ml. Colony count 22˚C and 37˚C were tested per ml.
“…However the parametric value for E. coli, Enterococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not tested in conformity with the requirements applicable to water offered for sale in bottles or containers…,” said the report.
