Technical Testing Parameters
The following parameters describe product-specific testing considerations. Test availability, method suitability and accredited coverage are confirmed against the sample and specification before quotation.
- Beverages: pH; soluble solids (°Brix); acidity; sugars; caffeine; preservatives; permitted colours and sweeteners; alcohol by volume and methanol for appropriate alcoholic products.
- Water: pH; conductivity/TDS; hardness; alkalinity; chloride; sulphate; nitrate; fluoride; bromate where relevant; metals matched to the applicable water standard.
- Microbiology: yeast and mould; coliforms; Escherichia coli; relevant beverage pathogens; Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other organisms only where the applicable packaged-water specification requires them.
- Contaminants: lead/cadmium/arsenic as specified; tea/coffee pesticide residues; ochratoxin A for relevant coffee specifications; patulin for applicable apple juice; ingredient-specific toxins and residues.
Select the applicable subset; these are not universal mandatory tests or a statement that every listed test is within the laboratory’s accredited scope.
Regulatory Standards & Compliance
Product mapping: 2.10; 2.3 for fruit/vegetable beverages; Alcoholic Beverages Regulations 2018 for alcoholic products; relevant current packaged-water provisions; Appendix A group 14.
Read the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 as amended, together with the product-specific criteria. Apply the current Contaminants, Toxins and Residues Regulations, 2011 and Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 where relevant.
For microbiology, identify the applicable Appendix B table, sampling plan and test portion. For additives, confirm the correct Appendix A classification and any product-specific restrictions. FoSCoS licensing identifiers are not equivalent to product-standard clauses.
Export limits depend on the destination, commodity and residue definition. Confirm the applicable MRL, reporting limit and effective date. BIS product standards, export certification and laboratory recognition require separate verification; a test report does not itself confer regulatory approval.
Sample Requirements & TAT
Submit sealed packs; do not decant carbonated or alcoholic products; obtain preservative and container instructions for water testing.
Confirm the required quantity, number of unopened units, containers and transport conditions with the laboratory before dispatch. Chemistry portions and sterile microbiology portions may need separate containers; a composite cannot automatically replace an n-unit sampling plan.
Provide the product designation, ingredient list, processing state, batch identity, storage instructions, target market and required specification. Turnaround is confirmed in the quotation after the scope is agreed. Shelf-life, challenge and specialist investigations require a separate study schedule.
Technical FAQs
Can drinking water and packaged drinking water use one specification?
No. Establish the intended use and applicable current regulatory framework before assigning tests.
Does an alcoholic beverage need only alcohol percentage?
No. Product identity, methanol and other regulated constituents/contaminants may also apply.
Does a tea pesticide panel automatically cover coffee?
No. Commodity mapping and destination residue definitions must be reviewed independently.
Discuss your testing specification
Share the product, market and required parameters so the laboratory can confirm the scope.