Article 1Sampling, sample preparation and analyses for the official control of...
Article 2This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day...
ANNEXMETHODS OF SAMPLING, SAMPLE PREPARATION AND ANALYSIS FOR OFFICIAL CONTROL OF LEVELS OF NITRATES IN CERTAIN FOODSTUFFS
A.GENERAL PROVISIONS A.1Scope A.2Definitions A.3General provisions A.3.1Personnel A.3.2Material to be sampled A.3.3Precautions to be taken A.3.4Incremental samples A.3.5Preparation of the aggregate sample A.3.6Replicate samples A.3.7Packaging and transmission of samples A.3.8Sealing and labelling of samples A.4Different types of lots B.METHOD OF SAMPLING B.1Sampling in the field B.2Sampling of lots of spinach, lettuce, baby foods and processed...B.3Sampling at retail stage B.4Assessment of compliance of a lot or sublot C.SAMPLE PREPARATION 1.In the case of sampling of fresh produce, sample preparation...2.Soil, heavily soiled and other outer non-edible and damaged leaves...3.The complete sample is to be homogenised (the addition of...4.One or more analytical samples are taken from the combined...D.METHOD OF ANALYSIS, REPORTING OF RESULTS AND LABORATORY CONTROL REQUIREMENTS...D.1Definitions D.2General requirements D.3Specific requirements D.3.1Extraction procedure D.3.2Performance criteria Notes to the performance criteria D.4Reporting of results, estimation of measurement uncertainty and recovery calculation...D.5Laboratory quality standards

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1882/2006

of 19 December 2006

laying down methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of the levels of nitrates in certain foodstuffs

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on official controls performed to ensure the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules1, in particular Article 11 (4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 of 19 December 2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs2 provides for maximum levels for nitrates in spinach, lettuce, iceberg-type lettuce, baby foods and processed cereal-based food for infants and young children.

(2)

Sampling plays an important role in the precision of the determination of the levels of nitrates, as well the sample preparation procedures.

(3)

It is necessary to fix general criteria with which the method of analysis should comply in order to ensure that control laboratories use methods of analysis with comparable levels of performance.

(4)

Fresh lettuce and spinach are very perishable products and it is in most cases not possible to detain the consignments until the analytical result of the official control is available. Therefore in these cases competent authorities might consider it appropriate and necessary to perform an official sampling at the field shortly before harvest.

(5)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee for the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: