Code of Good Hygiene Practice for Watercooler Companies

Summary of the initiative

Name
WE – Watercoolers Europe (former EBWA)
Objective(s)
The Association sets further self-regulatory standards on Hygiene and Safety. Therefore, this Code of Conduct has been introduced as a guideline to Members. It sets out the rules of behaviour necessary to ensure good hygiene management, the quality of the European Watercooler Industry's products and ethically correct management. The Code was revised in 2012.

Description of the Initiative

    Sector

    Sector

    Contact Point - Commission
    SANTE F4.003

    Self/Co-Regulation Basic Act

    LEGISLATIVE ACT
    Year
    2004
    Title of Act
    Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 1–54
    PRIVATE ACT
    Year
    2001
    Title of Act
    Code of Good Hygiene Practice for Watercooler Companies

    Geographical Coverage

    Participating Countries
    Germany

    Description

    Problems that lead to the introduction of Self/Co-Regulation and the adoption of the Founding Act
    According to the relevant European legislation, the bottling and distribution of water for watercoolers is to be considered a food business. Therefore special care has to be extended by those watercooler companies that are a Member of WE and/or its affiliated National Associations concerning all the European Watercooler Industry´s products. Extensive European and international legislation has to be adhered to by the bottlers, distributors and suppliers of the Industry.
    Target Group(s)
    WE members: Bottlers, Distributors, Suppliers and National Associations.
    Type of Instrument(s)
    Code of Conduct.
    Type of Financing
    -
    Type of Monitoring
    Conduct an initial survey of compliance capacity of future regulateesConduct regular visits and spot checksInitiate complaints proceduresMaintain database of those bounded by the normsProduce regular reportsReceive complaints and verify if norms were breached or notReflexive dialogue with the - stakeholdersOther
    European Commission
    National public authority
    International public authority
    Private regulator (code owner)
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Self-appointed private parties (e.g. NGOs)
    Succinct description of the type of Monitoring
    -
    Type of Enforcement
    Faming, shaming and blamingJudicial sanctionsMembership suspension/exclusionPrivate finesOther
    Private Regulator
    Private independent party with a mandate (e.g. auditors)
    Court system
    Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) / Online dispute resolution (ODR)
    Succinct description of the type of Enforcement
    -