The analyses of water samples mentioned in article R. 1321-19 are carried out by laboratories which must obtain prior approval from the Director General of the Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail and, for radioactivity analyses, from the Minister for Health. This approval may be granted to laboratories based in another Member State of the European Community which can demonstrate that they have equivalent facilities and use equivalent methods. If this application for approval is not acted upon for more than six months, this shall be deemed to constitute an acceptance decision.
The conditions for approval of these laboratories are set by an order of the Minister for Health, issued after consultation with the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety.
The methods for analysing water samples and their performance must be either the reference methods set by an order of the Minister for Health, issued after consultation with the Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail, or methods giving equivalent results.
With the exception of the cases provided for in article R. 1321-18, the costs of analysis are borne by the person responsible for producing, distributing or packaging the water, at rates and in accordance with procedures laid down by order of the ministers responsible for health, the economy and finance, consumer affairs and local authorities.