A French court has ruled that Perrier can continue to be sold as natural mineral water, rejecting a request by a consumer organisation to suspend sales of the brand.
The decision was made by a court in Nanterre, near Paris, in November 2025. It confirms that Perrier, owned by Nestlé Waters, can remain on sale in French supermarkets while regulatory discussions continue.
The case followed wider scrutiny of mineral water treatment practices in France, after Nestlé acknowledged that it had previously used filtration and treatment methods that are not permitted under the strict definition of natural mineral water.
Background To The Perrier Controversy
French rules require natural mineral water to remain microbiologically pure at source, with only very limited physical treatments allowed. Investigations in 2024 led to increased oversight of several bottled water sites, including Perrier’s Vergèze facility in southern France.
As part of that process, millions of bottles of Perrier were blocked or destroyed after failing quality checks. Nestlé later adjusted its production methods and maintained that product safety was never compromised.
The consumer group behind the court action argued that the use of filtration should prevent Perrier from being labelled as natural mineral water. The court disagreed that the situation justified an immediate ban or recall.
What This Means For French supermarkets
The ruling avoids a sudden disruption to supermarket bottled water ranges, where Perrier remains a high-volume branded product.
For retailers and suppliers across the France FMCG market, the case highlights the growing importance of food and drink labelling compliance, especially in tightly regulated categories such as bottled water.
Retailers are increasingly expected to verify supplier claims, particularly where traditional product definitions intersect with modern production techniques.
The decision also has implications for FMCG suppliers operating in European supermarkets, as regulators continue to clarify how legacy labels like “natural mineral water” should be applied in practice.
What Happens Next
While the court decision allows Perrier to remain on shelves, regulatory oversight of mineral water production in France continues. Any future changes to enforcement or labelling rules could still affect how bottled water brands are positioned in supermarkets.
For now, Perrier and other Nestlé Waters brands remain authorised for sale in France under existing conditions.
