Drinking water testing only with accreditation and register entry
The amended Polish water act replaced sanitary-inspection approval with mandatory PCA accreditation and entry in a register kept by the Chief Sanitary Inspector. 21 August was the deadline for laboratories that already hold accreditation.
- Testing of water intended for human consumption and of bathing water may only be carried out by laboratories accredited by PCA to PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025 and entered in the register kept by the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
- Samples must be taken by an accredited sampler; people qualified under the previous rules may continue until 21 May 2028.
- A notification must include the accreditation certificate with its scope and the results of proficiency testing from the last two years — this information is published in the public information bulletin.
- A microbiological exceedance — E. coli, intestinal enterococci, coliform bacteria or Legionella in hot service water — requires a partial report sent to the sanitary inspector on the day it is issued; other exceedances within seven days.
- The report must carry the register entry number, the names of the sampler and of the person authorising it, and the limit of quantification or detection of the method.
- Failing to issue a partial report or missing the deadline carries a fine of PLN 100 to 10,000, imposed by decision of the sanitary inspector.
- Laboratories without accreditation, so far working under sanitary-inspection approval, may continue until 21 May 2030 provided they are approved each year.
Source: Dziennik Ustaw 2026 poz. 605