ANNEX IIIU.K.SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE ANALYSIS OF PARAMETERS

Each Member State must ensure that any laboratory at which samples are analysed has a system of analytical quality control that is subject from time to time to checking by a person who is not under the control of the laboratory and who is approved by the competent authority for that purpose.

1.PARAMETERS FOR WHICH METHODS OF ANALYSIS ARE SPECIFIEDU.K.

[F1The following principles for methods of microbiological parameters are given either for reference, whenever a CEN/ISO method is given, or for guidance, pending the possible future adoption by the Commission of further CEN/ISO international methods for those parameters. Member States may use alternative methods, providing the provisions of Article 7(5) are met.

Those measures on further CEN/ISO international methods, designed to amend non-essential elements of this Directive, inter alia , by supplementing it, shall be adopted in accordance with the regulatory procedure with scrutiny referred to in Article 12(3).]

  • Coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli (E. coli) (ISO 9308-1)

  • Enterococci (ISO 7899-2)

  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa (prEN ISO 12780)

  • Enumeration of culturable microorganisms — Colony count 22 °C (prEN ISO 6222)

  • Enumeration of culturable microorganisms — Colony count 37 °C (prEN ISO 6222)

  • Clostridium perfringens (including spores)

Membrane filtration followed by anaerobic incubation of the membrane on m-CP agar (Note 1) at 44 ± 1 °C for 21 ± 3 hours. Count opaque yellow colonies that turn pink or red after exposure to ammonium hydroxide vapours for 20 to 30 seconds.

Note 1:U.K.

The composition of m-CP agar is:U.K.

  • Basal medium

    Tryptose30 g
    Yeast extract20 g
    Sucrose5 g
    L-cysteine hydrochloride1 g
    MgSO4 · 7H2O0,1 g
    Bromocresol purple40 mg
    Agar15 g
    Water1 000 ml
  • Dissolve the ingredients of the basal medium, adjust pH to 7,6 and autoclave at 121 °C for 15 minutes. Allow the medium to cool and add:

    D-cycloserine400 mg
    Polymyxine-B sulphate25 mg

    Indoxyl-β-D-glucoside

    to be dissolved in 8 ml sterile water before addition

    60 mg
    Filter — sterilised 0,5 % phenolphthalein diphosphate solution20 ml
    Filter — sterilised 4,5 % FeCl3 · 6H2O2 ml

2.PARAMETERS FOR WHICH PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS ARE SPECIFIEDU.K.

2.1.For the following parameters, the specified performance characteristics are that the method of analysis used must, as a minimum, be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the parametric value with a trueness, precision and limit of detection specified. Whatever the sensitivity of the method of analysis used, the result must be expressed using at least the same number of decimals as for the parametric value considered in Annex I, Parts B and C.U.K.

ParametersTrueness % of parametric value(Note 1)Precision % of parametric value(Note 2)Limit of detection % of parametric value(Note 3)ConditionsNotes
AcrylamideTo be controlled by product specification
Aluminium101010
Ammonium101010
Antimony252525
Arsenic101010
Benzo(a)pyrene252525
Benzene252525
Boron101010
Bromate252525
Cadmium101010
Chloride101010
Chromium101010
Conductivity101010
Copper101010
Cyanide101010Note 4
1,2-dichloroethane252510
EpichlorohydrinTo be controlled by product specification
Fluoride101010
Iron101010
Lead101010
Manganese101010
Mercury201020
Nickel101010
Nitrate101010
Nitrite101010
Oxidisability252510Note 5
Pesticides252525Note 6
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons252525Note 7
Selenium101010
Sodium101010
Sulphate101010
Tetrachloroethene252510Note 8
Trichloroethene252510Note 8
Trihalomethanes — Total252510Note 7
Vinyl chlorideTo be controlled by product specification

2.2.For hydrogen ion concentration the specified performance characterisatics are that the method of analysis used must be capable of measuring concentrations equal to the parametric value with a trueness of 0,2 pH unit and a precision of 0,2 pH unit.U.K.

a

These terms are further defined in ISO 5725.

Note 1 a:Trueness is the systematic error and is the difference between the mean value of the large number of repeated measurements and the true value.
Note 2 a:Precision is the random error and is usually expressed as the standard deviation (within and between batch) of the spread of results about the mean. Acceptable precision is twice the relative standard deviation.
Note 3:

Limit of detection is either:

  • three times the relative within batch standard deviation of a natural sample containing a low concentration of the parameter,

    or

  • five times the relative within batch standard deviation of a blank sample.

Note 4:The method should determine total cyanide in all forms.
Note 5:Oxidation should be carried out for 10 minutes at 100 °C under acid conditions using permanganate.
Note 6:The performance characteristics apply to each individual pesticide and will depend on the pesticide concerned. The limit of detection may not be achievable for all pesticides at present, but Member States should strive to achieve this standard.
Note 7:The performance characteristics apply to the individual substances specified at 25 % of the parametric value in Annex I.
Note 8:The performance characteristics apply to the individual substances specified at 50 % of the parametric value in Annex I.