It's not that they're not susceptible of being outlined, because we know what works and what doesn't in terms of sampling and analytical methods.

In particular, the Commission should be empowered to adopt limits for the concentrations of constituents of natural mineral waters, any necessary provisions for the indication on the labelling of high levels of certain constituents, the conditions of use of ozone-enriched air for the treatment of natural mineral water, information on the treatments of natural mineral water, methods of analysis to determine the absence of pollution of natural mineral waters, and the sampling procedures and methods of analysis necessary for checking the microbiological characteristics of natural mineral waters.

(b) requirements specifying the modalities of the actions to be taken by the operator in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3, in particular as regards sampling methods and reference methods for microbiological analyses.

(9) Whereas a procedure to lay down certain detailed provisions concerning natural mineral waters, notably in respect of the limits for the levels of certain constituents of natural mineral waters, should be established; whereas provisions for the indication, on labelling, of high levels of certain constituents should also be adopted; whereas methods of analysis, including limits of detection, to check the absence of pollution of natural mineral waters, and sampling procedures and methods of analysis for checking the microbiological characteristics of natural mineral waters, should be determined;

The standard comprises methods for both sampling and analysis.

The capacity of federal and provincial governments to monitor the environment has diminished, with fewer parameters being measured at fewer sites with growing inconsistency in sampling and analytical methods.