China Officially Releases First Group Standard for Evaluating Medical Natural Mineral Spring Water Resources

The China Western Development Promotion Association (CWDPA) has officially released
and begun implementation of the group standard
T/CWDPA 072—2025, Medical Natural Mineral Spring Water Resource Evaluation Specification
(the “Specification”).

The new standard establishes a systematic and standardized resource evaluation
framework for the medical natural mineral spring water sector, addressing
long-standing industry challenges such as inconsistent terminology,
unclear classification, and the lack of unified evaluation methods.

Breaking the “No Standard to Follow” Bottleneck

China has abundant natural mineral spring resources and has accumulated extensive
practical experience in thermal and mineral spring–based wellness and rehabilitation.
However, the industry has long faced gaps caused by the absence of a unified national
standard or authoritative guideline.

These gaps have resulted in blurred definitions, inconsistent classifications,
and uncertainty in evaluation and development principles.
The newly released Specification is designed to fill this void by providing
standardized guidance for resource identification, evaluation, responsible development,
and supervision.

A Clear Definition of “Medical Natural Mineral Spring Water”

The Specification formally defines “medical natural mineral spring water” as spring
water that naturally emerges from underground or is obtained through drilling,
and that meets at least one of the following conditions:

• Contains at least one of the following: trace elements or gases
• Has mineralization of ≥ 1000 mg/L
• Has a temperature of ≥ 34°C

Such water is characterized by potential disease prevention, health care,
therapeutic, or rehabilitation functions.

Full-Chain Evaluation Framework

Beyond definition, the Specification establishes a comprehensive evaluation system
covering the entire lifecycle of medical natural mineral spring water resources,
including:

• Evaluation objectives, principles, and baseline requirements
• Resource survey and monitoring requirements
• A classification system for medical natural mineral spring water resources
• Technical and economic evaluation for development and utilization
• Environmental protection and sustainable development requirements
• Supervision, governance, and responsibility traceability across the full chain

Supporting High-Quality Growth in a High-Potential Market

As public demand grows for non-pharmacological therapies and wellness-oriented services,
in alignment with China’s “Healthy China” strategy, the medical mineral spring industry
is entering a phase of significant expansion.

At the same time, issues such as unclear definitions, exaggerated claims,
and resource misuse highlight the urgent need for standardized governance.

Dr. Chen, a mineral spring expert involved in drafting the Specification,
described the standard as an “ID card” for medical natural mineral spring water
resources—helping to scientifically verify composition, functional characteristics,
and development value, while strengthening regulatory oversight and responsible use.

Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration

The development of the Specification brought together experts from geology,
medicine, ethnomedicine, rehabilitation, and environmental protection.
The drafting process also involved a broad range of participating institutions
and organizations, laying a strong foundation for implementation and industry adoption.

Looking Ahead

The Specification is expected to guide mineral spring–based medical and wellness
practices from experience-driven approaches toward evidence-informed development,
and from fragmented local practices toward a more unified national pathway.

Industry experts anticipate that, with continued research and standardized
implementation, medical natural mineral spring water may play an expanded role
in public health, chronic disease prevention, and the development of a regulated,
consumer-trustworthy wellness industry.

About the China Western Development Promotion Association (CWDPA)

The China Western Development Promotion Association is a national social organization
approved at the state level, committed to supporting coordinated regional development
and industry advancement. Through standards development and industry collaboration,
CWDPA promotes high-quality growth across key sectors and regions.