Commission Directive 2005/38/EC (repealed)Show full title

4. Specific provisions

4.1. Different types of lots

Food commodities may be traded in bulk, containers, or individual packings, such as sacks, bags, retail packings. The sampling procedure may be applied to all the different forms in which the commodities are put on the market.

Without prejudice to the specific provisions set out in points 4.3, 4.4 and 4.5, the following formula may be used as a guide for the sampling of lots traded in individual packs, such as sacks, bags, retail packings.

• weight: in kg

• sampling frequency (SF): every nth sack or bag from which an incremental sample must be taken (decimal figures should be rounded to the nearest whole number).

4.2. Weight of the incremental sample

The weight of the incremental sample must be about 100 grams, unless otherwise defined in this Annex. In the case of lots in retail packings, the weight of the incremental sample shall depend on the weight of the retail packing.

4.3. General survey of the sampling procedure for cereals and cereal products

Table 1

Subdivision of lots into sublots depending on product and lot weight

a Depending on the lot weight — see Table 2.
Commodity	Lot weight(tonnes)	Weight or number of sublots	No incremental samples	Aggregate sample Weight(kg)
Cereals and cereal products	≥ 1 500	500 tonnes	100	10
	> 300 and < 1 500	3 sublots	100	10
	≥ 50 and ≤ 300	100 tonnes	100	10
	< 50	—	3-100a	1-10

4.4. Sampling procedure for cereals and cereal products for lots ≥ 50 tonnes

• On condition that the sublot can be separated physically, each lot must be subdivided into sublots following Table 1. Taking into account that the weight of the lot is not always an exact multiple of the weight of the sublots, the weight of the sublot may exceed the mentioned weight by a maximum of 20 %.

• Each sublot must be sampled separately.

• Number of incremental samples: 100. Weight of the aggregate sample = 10 kg.

• If it is not possible to carry out the method of sampling set out in this point because of the commercial consequences resulting from damage to the lot such as packaging forms, means of transport, an alternative method of sampling may be applied provided that it is as representative as possible and is fully described and documented.

4.5. Sampling procedure for cereals and cereal products for lots < 50 tonnes

For lots of cereals and cereal products less than 50 tonnes, the sampling plan must be used with 10 to 100 incremental samples, depending on the lot weight, resulting in an aggregate sample of 1 to 10 kg. For very small lots (≤ 0,5 tonnes) a lower number of incremental samples may be taken, but the aggregate sample uniting all incremental samples shall be also in that case at least 1 kg.

The figures in Table 2 may be used to determine the number of incremental samples to be taken.

Table 2

Number of incremental samples to be taken depending on the weight of the lot of cereals and cereal products

Lot weight (tonnes)	No of incremental samples
≤ 0,05	3
> 0,05-≤ 0,5	5
> 0,5-≤ 1	10
> 1-≤ 3	20
> 3-≤ 10	40
> 10-≤ 20	60
> 20-≤ 50	100

4.6. Sampling procedure for foods intended for infants and young children

• The sampling procedure for cereals and cereal products as set out in point 4.5 shall apply to food intended for infants and young children. Accordingly the number of incremental samples to be taken shall depend on the weight of the lot, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 100, in accordance with Table 2 at point 4.5. For very small lots (≤ 0,5 tonnes) a lower number of incremental samples may be taken, but the aggregate sample uniting all incremental samples shall be also in that case at least 1 kg.

• Weight of the incremental sample must be about 100 grams. In the case of lots in retail packing, the weight of the incremental sample shall depend on the weight of the retail packing and in case of very small lots (≤ 0,5 tonnes) the incremental samples must have a weight as such that uniting the incremental samples results in an aggregate sample of at least 1 kg.

• Weight of aggregate sampling = 1-10 kg sufficiently mixed.

4.7. Sampling at retail stage

Sampling of foodstuffs at the retail stage must be done where possible in accordance with the sampling provisions set out in points 4.4. and 4.5. Where that is not possible, other effective sampling procedures at retail stage may be used provided that they ensure sufficient representativeness for the sampled lot.