Overview
- The prefect’s order permits production at Vergèze only from a blend of Romaine VI and Romaine VII, with carbon dioxide reinforcement as specified.
- Forages Romaine IV, IVbis and VIII are no longer authorized, must be hydraulically disconnected, and their pipelines dismantled.
- Reinforced oversight runs for 24 months, including weekly microbiological checks on the wells, monthly data sharing with ARS Occitanie, stoppage if limits are exceeded, and a two‑year quality stability synthesis.
- Nestlé must complete within one year a study on how 0.45 µm microfiltration affects the water’s natural microbiology.
- The decision follows Nestlé’s 2024 admission of banned treatments and a November court ruling in its favor, while Foodwatch objects to continued filtering and Radio France reported recent contamination episodes that led to blocked pallets.