Mineral Water Inquiry Commission: Senate Takes Legal Action for "False Testimony" by Nestlé Waters' Industrial Director

The Senate inquiry committee tasked with shedding light on the practices of bottled water manufacturers announced in a press release on Monday, May 12, that it will take legal action, following the hearing of a Nestlé Waters executive on March 26 regarding the situation at the Perrier site in Vergèze (Gard).

The rapporteur, Alexandre Ouizille (SER), and the president, Laurent Burgoa (LR), of the commission of inquiry into bottled water suspect the industrial director of Nestlé Waters, Ronan Le Fanic, of "false testimony": "This manager did not respect his oath to tell 'the whole truth, nothing but the truth'. " And consequently announced that they will refer the matter to the Paris prosecutor.

The senators believe that the manager lied when he told the Senate that the Vergèze plant, where the water is collected, had operated as usual between January and March 2025, without any operating incidents. However, "the commission's investigation shows that, on March 10 and 21, 2025, Perrier's production lines were affected by bacterial contamination, of which Nestlé Waters' management must have been informed."

"In both cases, the events in question, which were reported in the press, led to the blockage of numerous pallets of Perrier bottles, a blockage that has still not been lifted to this day," the commission of inquiry reported. " Nestlé Waters told us little . But obvious untruths have emerged. At least one perjurer has been identified," Alexandre Ouizille said on X.

The Senate committee is expected to present its report on May 19, after holding several months of hearings. Its goal is to shed light on the practices of bottled water manufacturers, a health scandal that erupted in early 2024 following revelations by journalists from Le Monde and Franceinfo about the use of banned treatments by mineral water companies.

The Nestlé Waters site in Vergèze is currently in a fragile state after the Gard prefect ordered the group to "withdraw" its microfiltration system from its Perrier water within two months, otherwise it risks not obtaining renewal of the operating permit for the famous green bottles as "natural mineral water" .

Before a parliamentary commission of inquiry, which has significant powers of investigation and hearing, false testimony is punishable by five years' imprisonment and a fine of 75,000 euros.