(MENAFN- The Peninsula) sanaullah ataullah |
The Peninsula
Doha: A seminar discussing safety of bottled water in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) opened in Doha yesterday.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E sheikh Dr. Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed bin Ali Al Thani inaugurated the seminar.
The participants discussed the legislations for regulating bottled water industry and its growing consumption. They talked about legal guarantees for the bottled water market to ensure its quality and consumer protection, with a focus on the role of GCC Standardization Organization in making technical regulations and specifications according to the types and requirements of drinking water.
The two-day 'Seminar on Bottled Water Consumption in the GCC Countries' is organised by Water Sciences and Technology Association and GCC General Secretariat in coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC).
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the event, the minister said that the seminar comes within the framework of the Ministry's support for the water strategy, its preservation and sustainability, and the strengthening of the role of local and Gulf civil society organisations to achieve environmental sustainability.
He noted the importance of the topic of the seminar covering all GCC countries that suffer from lack of water resources and inadequate rainfall.
The event was attended by officials of MoECC, and a group of experts and specialists in water desalination systems in the GCC countries.
They discussed the monitoring role of government agencies in the disposal of wastewater, and the plastic containers associated with the production and use of bottled water, as well as the exchange of experiences and best practices among the GCC countries for developing the best guidelines for these industries operating in GCC countries.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Sheikh Dr Faleh bin Nasser bin Ahmed Al Thani (left) with other officials during the opening of 2nd Seminar on Bottled Water Consumption in GCC Countries in Doha yesterday.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the seminar, President of Water Sciences and Technology Association (WSTA), Dr. Abdulaziz Al Turbak, said most people in GCC countries use bottled water for drinking as a large portion of the population does not use tap water supplied by the government.
However, he said, tap water is available with the highest international standards, subjected to quality control and offered at a reduced price, compared to bottled water.
Vice-President of WSTA, Waleed Kahlid Al Zubari, presented a research paper in which he said that it is necessary to use a reusable water bottle made of materials such as stainless steel or glass to reduce plastic waste and exposure to chemicals found in plastic bottles.
He stressed using water filter at home and workplace to provide clean and safe drinking water without the need for bottled water.
At the government level, Al Zubari recommended the importance of developing legislation and regulations that motivate and encourage companies to adopt sustainable manufacturing practices, use renewable energy sources, reduce waste, as well as replace plastic with glass and reusable containers.
Eng Khalid Al Jahmi, a representative of GCC Standardization Organization, said that sales of bottled water worldwide are estimated at over $100bn, with an annual growth rate of 10 percent.
Al Jahmi said that GCC states are among the countries with the highest per capita consumption of bottled water.
He noted that the increasing dependence of the GCC countries on bottled water in the market, and the low production cost - the cost of producing one cubic metre is about 2.25 riyals in Saudi Arabia, which is the cheapest in the world.
Al Jahmi stressed the importance of developing legislation and regulations to enhance the safety of bottled water and community health.
Eng Fatima bint Yousef bin Saleh Al Araimi, Head of the Risk Assessment and Food Crisis Management Department at the Food Safety and Quality Center in Oman stressed on need to pay attention to bottled water containers in terms of the quality of the materials and the importance of closing them tightly, and that their source be approved by the official authorities.