F1SCHEDULE 12Monitoring of water bottled and labelled as “spring water” and bottled drinking water

Annotations:
Amendments (Textual)

PART 8Monitoring obligations relating to indicative dose

SECTION 1General

Screening by determining gross alpha activity38

1

This paragraph applies where a food authority decides to screen any water under paragraph 37(1)(a) (screening of gross alpha activity) to determine whether it is necessary for the authority carry out a paragraph 45 determination for the water.

2

The food authority must analyse a sample of water to determine whether the gross alpha activity in a sample is less than 0.1 Bq/l.

3

Where the gross alpha activity detected in a sample does not exceed 0.1 Bq/l, the food authority may assume that the indicative dose for the water does not exceed 0.10 mSv.

4

Where sub-paragraph (3) applies, the food authority does not need to carry out any further analysis for the purpose of carrying out a paragraph 45 determination for the water, unless it knows from other sources of information that specific radionuclides are present in the water that mean that the indicative dose for the water is likely to exceed 0.10 mSv.

5

Where the gross alpha activity detected in a sample exceeds 0.1 Bq/l, the food authority must determine, by analysis, the activity concentration of such other radionuclides in the water (using water from the same sample or another sample of the water) as the food authority believes or suspects may be present in the water, taking into account such information about likely sources of radioactivity affecting the water as the food authority considers relevant.

6

For the purpose of this paragraph, the food authority may set an alternative screening level for gross alpha activity in relation to any water that it is monitoring—

a

if it is satisfied that, if set at the alternative level that it proposes, the indicative dose for the water will not exceed 0.10 mSv, and

b

if called upon to do so by the Secretary of State, it can demonstrate to the Secretary of State that, at that alternative screening level, the indicative dose for the water will not exceed 0.10 mSv.

7

When determining the gross alpha activity in a sample of water for the purpose of this paragraph, the food authority must analyse the sample using a method of analysis that is capable of detecting gross alpha activity in the sample at a level of detection not exceeding 0.04 Bq/l.

8

The provisions in paragraph 25(3) and (4) (relating to the calculation and reporting of the limit of detection) apply in the same way to the calculation of the limit of detection for a method of analysis used to measure gross alpha activity as they apply to the calculation and reporting of the limit of detection for a method of analysis used to measure the activity concentration of radon.