A quality and safety certification system for bottled water is being introduced. Monitoring of microplastics in bottled water will also be strengthened.
On the 24th, the Ministry of Environment reported the "improvement plan for bottled water management" at a ministerial meeting held at the Government Seoul Office. The plan includes three major tasks: ▲ securing safety at each stage of bottled water production, ▲ sustainable development and management of groundwater, and ▲ enhancing transparency and accountability in bottled water management.
The Ministry of Environment will introduce a quality and safety certification system for bottled water at the level of the International Organization for Standardization food safety management system (ISO 22000), based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP). The ministry plans to prepare the certification system by the end of the year and conduct a pilot project next year, aiming for legislation by 2027.
The Ministry of Environment has also decided to establish storage standards for bottled water. It is known that when bottled water in PET bottles is exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period during distribution, carcinogens such as acetaldehyde and formaldehyde can leach out. The ministry plans to specify storage standards to minimize exposure to direct sunlight.
Management of microplastics will also be strengthened. The Ministry of Environment will expand investigations into microplastics and perfluorinated compounds in bottled water while continuously reviewing the need to establish standards and enhance investigative methods.
Meanwhile, the bottled water market has continuously grown over the past 30 years since the registration and management system was first introduced in 1995. According to a survey commissioned by the Ministry of Environment to the Korea Water and Wastewater Association last year, approximately one-third (34.3%) of the entire population is reported to drink bottled water.