Fertilisers (Sampling and Analysis) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Part II General instructions for the taking of samples

1.  In the case of fertiliser in containers, only unopened containers which appear to the inspector proposing to take the sample to be the original containers of the fertiliser shall be selected for the purpose of sampling.

2.  The sample shall be taken and prepared as quickly as possible having regard to the precautions necessary to ensure that it remains representative of the sampled portion. Instruments, surfaces and containers used in sampling shall be clean and dry.

3.  No sample shall be drawn from any part of the sampled portion which appears to be damaged.

4.  When stones are naturally present in a fertiliser, they shall, if possible, be broken up and mixed with the quantity from which a sample is to be drawn. Failing this they shall be removed from the mixture from which a sample is to be drawn and the weight of the residue of that mixture and the weight of the stones ascertained and reported to the analyst. In addition, a representative sample of the stones shall be sent to the analyst with the final sample.

5.  An inspector who intends to take a sample in accordance with the provisions of section 76(1) on premises (not being premises used only as a dwelling) on which he has reasonable cause to believe that there is any fertiliser which the occupier of the premises has purchased, shall:—

(a) satisfy himself that the conditions in which the fertiliser is stored are not such as might cause undue deterioration of the said fertiliser and that the fertiliser appears not to have been contaminated by any other material;

(b) where he has reasonable cause to believe that fertiliser in containers is only part of an original consignment, select the number of containers to be sampled as if not less than the whole consignment were still present, except that sampling shall not take place if fewer than the minimum number of containers prescribed in Table 1 of Part VI for the purposes of paragraph 2(a) and (c) of Part III are present.

The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply as respects any fertiliser purchased for the purpose of resale in the course of trade.

6.  The sampling apparatus shall be made of materials which cannot affect the characteristics of the materials to be sampled.

7.  In the case of a sampling spear its dimensions shall be appropriate to the characteristics of the sampled portion in all respects including dimensions of the container and particle size of the fertiliser.

8.  Notwithstanding the provisions of these Regulations, a sampling spear shall not be used if, prior to the taking of a sample, objection is raised thereto by the manufacturer on the grounds that the material is unsuitable.

9.  Mechanical apparatus may be used for the sampling of moving fertilisers, if the apparatus is capable of taking samples right across the flow of the product.

10.  Apparatus designed to divide the sample into approximately equal parts may be used for taking incremental samples and for the preparation of reduced and final samples.

11.  A sample taken in accordance with the methods described below shall be deemed to be representative of the sampled portion.