“Communiqué on Procedures and Methods Governing the Bottled Water Sales Places and Bottled Water Means of Transport” of the Ministry of Health has become effective upon being published in the Official Journal.

The Communiqué contains the qualifications to be possessed by the places whete licensed spring and drinking waters and natural mineral waters are stored and sold and the means of transport to be used in the transport thereof, licensing conditions, operating principles and methods and principles related to the inspection thereof.

Those who want to open a place for selling water shall file an application with the Public Health Directorate with the layout plan and sketch of the place wehere sales shall take place and obtain a license. The license granted in compliance with the Communiqué shall not relieve the entrepreneurs from their obligation to obtain permits from other competent organisations and institutions as per the legislation in effect.

In the file to be prepared in order to obtain a license for water sales place shall also be contained information and documentation concerning the fact that any staff members to be employed at such places have been trained in hygiene or have filed an application to be trained on the matter as per the Public Health Act.

SALES AND STORAGE PLACE

 At the bottled water sales places, the area of use of the sections where bottled waters sold and stored in returnable and non-returnable containers shall be large enough to keep any empty and filled demijohns and consist of two sections.

Floors and all walls of the sales places shall be covered with a dirt-repellent, easy-to-wash and clean and anti-contamination material. A flushing system shall be installed, which is connected to the sewerage or, in places where there is no sewage system, to the cesspools which shall ensure any waste water to be created upon the cleaning and washing of the sales place to be removed.

NOT TO BE EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT

At the sales and storage places, the sections where the empty and filled demijohns are stored and offered for sale shall be separated, arranged in a way in which they shall not be exposed to direct sunlight, dust, smoke, heat and other factors and no water may be stored and sold in outdoor areas.

NOT TO BE CARRIED TOGETHER WITH GAS CYLINDERS

A copy of the production licenses of the waters sold as well as the license issued for the sales place shall be hanged on an easily visible place. Bottled waters may not be carried, sold nor kept together with gas cylinders, petroleum and petroleum products, hardware, any chemical substances or on board the means of transport by which such products are carried.

At the sales place, bottled waters shall be stored and sold not to be affected by sunlight so that they are not exposed to heat. Empty and filled containers and water may not be displayed or advertised in any location other than the sales and storage place. A separate bathroom and washbasin at the sales and storage place.

LICENSE TO BE OBTAINED FOR VEHICLES

Those who want to use a vehicle for the sales and transport of water shall obtain a license from the Public Health Directorate as well. In the file to be prepared for application shall be contained information and documentation concerning the fact that any staff members to be employed on such vehicles have been trained in hygiene or have filed an application to be trained on the matter as per the Public Health Act.

WATER NOT TO BE SOLD ON FLATBED TRUCKS

The beds of the trucks selling water to consumers from the water sales places shall be boxed and/or have a system which shall protect the demijohns against the external weather elements and no water shall be sold on flatbed trucks. Means of water transport shall be arranged in a way which shall not cause any scratches and deterioration on the containers nor change the qualifications of the water therein.

Name of the water sales place and the date and number of license shall be displayed on the right and left sides of the vehicle used for the sales and transport of bottled water.

In the event that the personnel working at the bottled water sales place and on board the bottled water transport vehicles change, the Public health Directorate shall be notified of this fact not later than three days.

REGULAR INSPECTION

Water sales and storage places and means of water transport shall be inspected at three months’ intervals if necessary by the Directorate.

During such inspection, it shall be checked whether or not the name of the water sold in demijohns as it appears on the label is the same as that appearing on the shrink wrapping on the lid. Demijohns shall be organoleptically analysed and use of those worn-out and distorted containers which are aged not to show the colour of the water therein shall be prevented.

 In the event that water is sold in demijohns and in PET, PVC, etc. containers at the water sales place waters may not be displayed in front of the water sales place. These provisions shall also be valid for such business places as kiosks, grocers, markets, etc.

Sample shall be taken from the spring and drinking waters and natural mineral waters offered for sale at the water sales place and analysed for inspection parameters and arsenic, fluoride, bromate and broform.