New drinking water analysis programmes
From 1 January 2026, the terms of sanitary control of water are changing. The publication…
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What is packaged water?
Packaged water includes all water sold in packaging (bottles, carboys, cartons). Unlike tap water, its regulatory status depends on its origin and composition.
- Natural mineral water: Distinguished by its original purity and constant mineral composition. It comes from a protected underground water table and cannot undergo any disinfection treatment.
- Spring water: Also from a protected underground source, it must be naturally fit for consumption. However, its mineral content is not necessarily stable over time.
- Water made potable by treatment: Water from various origins made potable through specific treatment processes before being packaged.
This sector is subject to extremely strict health safety requirements, where protecting the resource and controlling the bottling process are the two pillars of compliance.
There are generally three types of requirements:
- Purity at the source: Total absence of anthropogenic pollution.
- Stability: Consistency of physico-chemical composition for mineral waters.
- Container safety: Monitoring of transfers between the packaging (PET, glass) and the water.
Managing health risk
For mineral water companies and bottlers, health safety is a contractual commitment to the consumer.
To guarantee flawless quality from source to bottle, we support you in implementing your monitoring plans. We meet the requirements of the Public Health Code and self-monitoring protocols to detect any trace of chemical or microbiological contaminants.
Regulations
Packaged or bottled waters must meet the limits and quality references set out in the order of 14 March 2007 and its amendments relating to the quality criteria for packaged waters, and to specific treatments and labelling requirements for packaged natural mineral and spring water, as well as natural mineral water distributed at public drinking fountains.
Innovation & Methods
Our expertise
We offer analyses to check the regulatory compliance of your foodstuffs.
Specific microbiology
Testing for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, revivable bacteria, enterococci and sulphite-reducing anaerobes.
Pesticides & Métabolites
Ultra-trace analyses suited to the very low thresholds required for mineral and spring waters.
Packaging migration
Testing for antimony, phthalates, bisphenols and microplastics.
Physico-chemistry
Complete mineral profile (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, sulphates, bicarbonates).
Regulations
Our regulatory team supports you in assessing the compliance of your products by providing daily monitoring of applicable regulations and directives, draft texts and standards.
Our experts Céline and Aurélie are here to help.
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Audit
Carry out an auditA comprehensive quality audit to assess your production practices and ensure the compliance of your products. Our experts will provide you with tailored recommendations to optimise your processes and reduce risks.
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Traceability
Discover our toolWe help you implement effective traceability systems to ensure transparency throughout the cereal production chain. You will be able to track each batch from cultivation to final use.
Logistics
Our nationwide coverage, combined with a fleet of tri-temperature vehicles compliant with the NF X15-140 standard, guarantees control of the cold chain and the transport of samples under optimal conditions.
Phytocontrol’s sampling technicians are all qualified to carry out physico-chemical and microbiological sampling in accordance with the following standards:
- FD T90-520: sampling technique for the health monitoring of drinking water.
- FD T90-521: sampling technique for the health monitoring of swimming pool and bathing water.
- FD T90-522: sampling technique for testing for Legionella in water.
Every sample benefits from real-time traceability, from collection or sampling through to analysis.
Optimising our routes helps reduce our environmental impact while ensuring a responsive, high-performance service.
Testimonial
A challenge to overcome?
We have the solution!
Whether you are a network manager, an industrial company or a farmer, we help you ensure the sustainability and compliance of your resource.
The reputation of a mineral water depends on its absolute purity. With growing concerns about microplastics and pesticide residues, having a partner like Phytocontrol allows us to scientifically prove the quality of our resource with some of the lowest detection thresholds on the market.
+1,000 satisfied customers
Research and expertise
A research centre at your service
We drive your projects forward with tailor-made solutions and close support. Technical expertise, full traceability and rigorous compliance: we turn your constraints into performance levers.
Our experts are committed to supporting you in:
- Securing your production with high-precision analyses.
- Controlling your traceability, from raw material to finished product.
- Anticipating regulatory developments to ensure your compliance.
ACCREDITATIONS
Our accreditations
Phytocontrol is accredited by COFRAC and holds specific approvals from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Environment for water sampling and analysis.
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We support you from order to delivery of results.
We offer 3 levels of support to help you:
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Everything you need to know, at the right time, for your business.
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