Commission Regulation (EC) No 401/2006Show full title

[F1 L. METHOD OF SAMPLING FOR VERY LARGE LOTS OR LOTS STORED OR TRANSPORTED IN A WAY WHEREBY SAMPLING THROUGHOUT THE LOT IS NOT FEASIBLE U.K.

L.1. General principles U.K.

In case the way of transport or storage of a lot does not enable to take incremental samples throughout the whole lot, sampling of such lots should preferably be done when the lot is in flow (dynamic sampling).

In the case of large warehouses destined to store food, operators should be encouraged to install equipment in the warehouse enabling (automatic) sampling across the whole stored lot.

When the sampling procedures as provided for in this part L are applied, the food business operator or his representative should be informed of the sampling procedure. If the sampling procedure is questioned by the food business operator or his representative, the food business operator or his representative shall enable the competent authority to sample throughout the whole lot at his/her own cost.

Sampling of a part of the lot is allowed, on the condition that the quantity of the sampled part is at least 10 % of the lot to be sampled. If a part of a lot of food of the same class or description has been sampled and identified as not satisfying [F2 legal] requirements, it shall be presumed that the entire lot is also affected, unless further detailed assessment shows no evidence that the rest of the lot is unsatisfactory.

Textual Amendments

F2 Word in Annex 1 para. L1 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Contaminants in Food (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/639), regs. 1, 16; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

The relevant provisions, such as weight of the incremental sample, provided for in the other parts of this Annex are applicable for the sampling for very large lots or lots stored or transported in a way whereby sampling throughout the lot is not feasible.

L.2. Number of incremental samples to be taken in the case of very large lots U.K.

In the case of large sampled portions (sampled portions > 500 tonnes), the number of incremental samples to be taken = 100 incremental samples + √tonnes. However in case the lot is less than 1 500 tonnes and can be subdivided into sublots in accordance with the table 1 of part B and on the condition that the sublots can be separated physically, the number of incremental samples as provided for in part B have to be taken.

L.3. Large lots transported by ship U.K.

L.3.1. Dynamic sampling of large lots transported by ship U.K.

The sampling of large lots in ships is preferably carried out while the product is in flow (dynamic sampling).

The sampling is to be done per hold (entity that can physically be separated). Holds are however emptied partly one after the other so that the initial physical separation no longer exists after transfer into storage facilities. Sampling can therefore be performed based on initial physical separation or based on the separation after transfer into the storage facilities.

The unloading of a ship can last for several days. Normally, sampling has to be performed at regular intervals during the whole duration of unloading. It is however not always feasible or appropriate for an official inspector to be present for sampling during the whole operation of unloading. Therefore sampling of part of the lot is allowed to be undertaken (sampled portion). The number of incremental samples is determined by taking into account the size of the sampled portion.

Even if the official sample is taken automatically, the presence of an inspector is necessary. However if the automatic sampling is done with pre-set parameters which cannot be changed during the sampling and the incremental samples are collected in a sealed receptacle, preventing any possible fraud, then the presence of an inspector is only required at the beginning of the sampling, every time the receptacle of the samples needs to be changed and at the end of the sampling.

L.3.2. Sampling of lots transported by ship by static sampling U.K.

In cases where the sampling is done in a static way the same procedure as foreseen for storage facilities (silos) accessible from above has to be applied (see point L.5.1).

The sampling has to be performed on the accessible part (from above) of the lot/hold. The number of incremental samples is determined by taking into account the size of the sampled portion.

L.4. Sampling of large lots stored in warehouses U.K.

The sampling has to be performed on the accessible part of the lot. The number of incremental samples is determined by taking into account the size of the sampled portion.

L.5. Sampling of storage facilities (silos) U.K.

L.5.1. Sampling of silos (easily) accessible from above U.K.

The sampling has to be performed on the accessible part of the lot. The number of incremental samples is determined by taking into account the size of the sampled portion.

L.5.2. Sampling of silos not accessible from above (closed silos) U.K.

L.5.2.1. Silos not accessible from above (closed silos) with individual sizes > 100 tonnes U.K.

Food stored in such silos cannot be sampled in a static way. Therefore when the food in the silo has to be sampled and there is no possibility to move the consignment, the agreement has to be made with the operator that he or she has to inform the inspector about when the silo will be unloaded, partially or completely, in order to enable sampling when the food is in flow.

L.5.2.2. Silos not accessible from above (closed silos) with individual sizes < 100 tonnes U.K.

Contrary to the provision in part point L.1 (sampled part at least 10 %), the sampling procedure involves the release into a receptacle of a quantity of 50 to 100 kg and taking the sample from it. The size of the aggregate sample corresponds to the whole lot and the number of incremental samples relate to the quantity of the food from the silo released into the receptacle for sampling.

L.6. Sampling of loose food in large closed containers U.K.

Such lots can often only be sampled when unloaded. In certain cases it is not possible to unload at the point of import or control and therefore the sampling should take place when such containers are unloaded. The operator has to inform the inspector about the place and time of unloading the containers.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Inserted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 519/2014 of 16 May 2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 401/2006 as regards methods of sampling of large lots, spices and food supplements, performance criteria for T-2, HT-2 toxin and citrinin and screening methods of analysis (Text with EEA relevance).

(1)

A guidance document for competent authorities for the control of compliance with EU legislation on aflatoxins is available at http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/food/chemicalsafety/contaminants/aflatoxin_guidance_en.pdf. The guidance document provides additional practical information but the information contained in the guidance document is subordinate to the provisions in this Regulation.