Legislative Action

Canada: Canadian bottled water labeling bill proposed

WaterTechOnline.com -

OTTAWA — A bill has been proposed in the Canadian Parliament that would require more informative labeling of bottled water, according to a Feb 21 press release from Member of Parliament Paul Dewar, who represents a portion of the city of Ottawa.

Dewar’s bill, which is sponsored by the New Democratic Party (NDP), would require that bottled water labels provide consumers with the source of the water, added ingredients, the date of packaging, the expiration date, a toll-free number at which to reach the manufacturer, a warning about the possibility of chemical leaching from the bottle into the water and a statement instructing consumers to “refrigerate after opening” in order to reduce the chances of microbial growth and contamination in the water, according the release.

“Despite what advertising campaigns keep telling us, there is nothing pure about bottled water,” Dewar’s release quotes him as saying. “Everyday Canadians should have the information about the chemical contents inside the bottle which can have a serious impact on their health.”

The release includes statements of support from environmental groups, the Polaris Institute Environmental Defence.

“Strong labeling regulations will give Canadians a clear idea of what’s really in the bottle,” Dewar’s website quotes him as saying. “But that’s just the first step — the government must reinforce public trust in our local water systems by revamping our public water infrastructure and regulating the environmental impact of the industry.