3.General provisions
3.1.Personnel
Sampling shall be performed by an authorised person as specified by the Member States.
3.2.Material to be sampled
Each lot which is to be examined must be sampled separately.
3.3.Precautions to be taken
In the course of sampling and preparation of the samples precautions must be taken to avoid any changes, which would affect the benzo(a)pyrene content, adversely affect the analytical determination or make the aggregate samples unrepresentative.
3.4.Incremental samples
As far as possible incremental samples should be taken at various places distributed throughout the lot or sublot. Departure from this procedure must be recorded in the record.
3.5.Preparation of the aggregate sample
The aggregate sample is made up by uniting all incremental samples. This aggregate sample is homogenised in the laboratory unless this is incompatible with implementation of point 3.6.
3.6.Replicate laboratory samples
Replicate laboratory samples for enforcement, trade (defence) and referee purposes shall be taken from the homogenised aggregate sample unless this conflicts with Member States’ rules on sampling.
3.7.Packaging and transmission of samples
Each sample shall be placed in a clean, inert container offering adequate protection from contamination and against damage in transit. All necessary precautions shall be taken to avoid any change in composition of the sample, which might arise during transportation or storage.
3.8.Sealing and labelling of samples
Each sample taken for official use shall be sealed at the place of sampling and identified following the Member State’s rules.
A record must be kept of each sampling, permitting each lot to be identified unambiguously and giving the date and place of sampling together with any additional information likely to be of assistance to the analyst.