Nestlé Waters agrees deal to turn tap off French mineral water probe

The non-prosecution agreement is the largest environmentally related one of its kind to be signed in France so far.

Swiss food and beverage giant Nestlé’s water subsidiary, Nestlé Waters, has agreed to a fine of €2m in order to put an end to a French mineral water investigation.

The probe was looking into the treatment of mineral water, which cannot be filtered under French law and is meant to be natural, as well as the use of illegal wells. 

Nestlé Waters' brands include San Pellegrino and Vittel. 

The non-prosecution agreement is the largest environmentally related one of its kind to be signed in France so far. 

The deal was reached because Nestlé’s actions were found not to cause any public health impact, and the company cooperated with the investigation, meaning legal processes were speed up. Nestlé Waters has since put changed procedures to ensure the practices in question are now regulation compliant.

Nestlé will have three months to pay the €2m. It has pledged to take significant steps to make up for the ecological damage caused by introducing an extensive renaturation plan.

It is expected to spend about €1.1m over the next two years, to repair the environment in a number of French towns where it has operations. 

Nestlé is also required to compensate a number of environmental associations, at a total cost of around €516,800. 

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Taxonomy

• Bottled Water