Regulation 3
In this Schedule–
“sampled portion” means a quantity of a material constituting a unit and having characteristics presumed to be uniform;
“incremental sample” means a quantity taken from one point in the sampled portion;
“aggregate sample” means a aggregate of incremental samples taken from the same sampled portion;
“reduced sample” means a representative part of the aggregate sample obtained from the latter by a process of reduction;
“final sample” means a representative part of the reduced sample or, where no intermediate reduction is required, of the aggregate sample; and
“unit” has the same meaning as in the sampling Directive.
1. In the case of feeding stuffs in packages or containers, except where section 68(2)(b) of the Act applies, only unopened packages or containers, which appear to the inspector proposing to take the sample to be the original packages or containers of the feeding stuff, shall be selected for the purpose of the sample.
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. Where any appreciable portion of the feeding stuff appears to be mouldy, or is otherwise apparently unsuitable for feeding purposes, separate samples shall be drawn of the unsuitable portion and of the residue of the feeding stuff respectively. These shall be treated as separate sampled portions.
5.—(1) An inspector who intends to take a sample in accordance with the provisions of section 76(1)(b) of the Act shall satisfy himself that the conditions in which the material concerned is stored are not such as might have caused undue deterioration thereof, and that it appears not to have been contaminated by any other material.
(2) The provisions of sub-paragraph (1) above shall not apply as respect any feeding stuff purchased for the purpose of resale in the course of trade.
6. The sampling apparatus shall consist of materials which cannot contaminate the feeding stuff to be sampled.
7. Subject to paragraph 8 below, in the absence of good reason to the contrary, the sampling apparatus for solid feeding stuffs shall be taken from among the following:
(a)a flat-bottomed shovel with vertical sides;
(b)a sampling spear with dimensions appropriate to the characteristics of the sampled portion in all respects, including dimensions of the container and particle size of the feeding stuff;
(c)mechanical apparatus which, if used for the purpose of sampling a feeding stuff being moved at the time the sample is taken, must be capable of taking samples right across the flow of the product;
(d)apparatus designed to divide the sample into approximately equal parts for taking incremental samples, and for the preparation of reduced and final samples.
8. A sampling spear shall not be used if the material is in a package or container containing not more than 50 kg and, prior to the taking of a sample, the manufacturer objects to such use on the ground that the material is unsuitable.
9. The sample shall be taken, prepared and packaged in accordance with the requirements specified, in the Annex to the Sampling Directive–
(a)in paragraphs 5A and 5B under the heading “QUANTITATIVE REQUIREMENTS” (as set out in section A of the Table to this Part); and
(b)in paragraphs 6.2 to 6.4 under the heading “INSTRUCTION FOR TAKING, PREPARING AND PACKAGING THE SAMPLES” (as set out in Section B of the Table to this Part).
10. Any sample taken in accordance with the preceding paragraphs of this Schedule shall be considered as representative of the sampled portion.
(1) Where the number obtained is a fraction, it should be rounded up to the next whole number. | ||
(2) For packages or containers whose contents do not exceed 1kg or one litre and for blocks or licks weighing not more than 1kg each, an incremental sample shall be the contents of one original package or container, one block or one lick. | ||
(3) The methods provided for in 5.A. are for use in the control of aflatoxins, rye, castor-oil plant and crotalaria in complete and supplementary feeding stuffs. | ||
| 5.A. | In relation to the control of substances or products uniformly distributed throughout the feedingstuff | |
| 5.A.1 | Sampled portion | |
| The size of the sampled portion must be such that each of its constituent parts can be sampled. | ||
| 5.A.2 | Incremental samples | |
| 5.A.2.1 | Loose feedingstuffs: | Minimum number of incremental samples: |
| 5.A.2.1.1. | Sampled portions not exceeding 2.5 metric tons | Seven |
| 5.A.2.1.2. | Sampled portions exceeding 2.5 metric tons | √ 20 times the number of metric tons making up the sampled portion(1), up to a maximum of 40 incremental samples |
| 5.A.2.2. | Packaged feedingstuffs: | Minimum number of packages to be sampled(2) |
| 5.A.2.2.1 | Packages of more than one kg: | |
| 5.A.2.2.1.1. | Sampled portions of one to four packages | All packages |
| 5.A.2.2.1.2. | Sampled portions of five to 16 packages | Four |
| 5.A.2.2.1.3. | Sampled portions of more than 16 packages | √ Number of packages making up the sampled portion(1), up to a maximum of 20 packages |
| 5.A.2.2.2. | Packages not exceeding 1 kg | Four |
| 5.A.2.3 | Liquid or semi-liquid feedingstuffs: | Minimum number of containers to be sampled(2) |
| 5.A.2.3.1. | Containers of more than one litre: | |
| 5.A.2.3.1.1. | Sampled portions of one to four containers | All containers |
| 5.A.2.3.1.2. | Sampled portions of five to 16 containers | Four |
| 5.A.2.3.1.3. | Sampled portions of more than 16 containers | √ Number of containers making up the sampled portion(1), up to a maximum of 20 containers |
| 5.A.2.3.2. | Containers not exceeding one litre | Four |
| 5.A.2.4. | Feed blocks and mineral licks | Minimum number of blocks or licks to be sampled(2) |
| One block or lick per sampled portion of 25 units, up to a maximum of four blocks or licks | ||
| 5.A.3. | Aggregate sample | |
| A single aggregate sample per sampled portion is required. The total amount in the incremental samples making up the aggregate sample shall be not less than the following: | ||
| 5.A.3.1. | Loose feedingstuffs | 4 kg |
| 5.A.3.2. | Packaged feedingstuffs: | |
| 5.A.3.2.1. | Packages of more than 1 kg | 4 kg |
| 5.A.3.2.2. | Packages not exceeding 1 kg | Weight of the contents of four original packages |
| 5.A.3.3. | Liquid or semi-liquid feedingstuffs: | |
| 5.A.3.3.1. | Containers of more than one litre | Four litres |
| 5.A.3.3.2. | Containers not exceeding one litre | Volume of the contents of four original containers |
| 5.A.3.4. | Feed blocks or mineral licks: | |
| 5.A.3.4.1. | Each weighing more than 1 kg | 4 kg |
| 5.A.3.4.2. | Each weighing not more than 1 kg | Weight of four original blocks or licks |
| 5.A.4. | Final samples | |
| The aggregate sample gives the final samples on reduction when necessary. Analysis of at least one final sample is required. The amount in the final sample for analysis shall be not less than the following: | ||
| Solid feedingstuffs | 500 g | |
| Liquid or semi-liquid feedingstuffs | 500 ml | |
| 5.B. | In relation to the control of undesirable substances or products likely to be distributed non-uniformly throughout the feedingstuffs, such as aflatoxins, rye ergot, castor-oil plant and crotalaria in straight feedingstuffs(3) | |
| 5.B.1. | Sampled portion: see 5.A.1. | |
| 5.B.2. | Incremental samples | |
| 5.B.2.1. | Loose feedingstuffs: see 5.A.2.1. | |
| 5.B.2.2. | Packaged feedingstuffs: | Minimum number of packages to be sampled |
| 5.B.2.2.1. | Sampled portions consisting of one to four packages | All packages |
| 5.B.2.2.2. | Sampled portions consisting of five to 16 packages | Four |
| 5.B.2.2.3. | Sampled portions consisting of more than 16 packages | √ Number of packages making up the sampled portion(1), up to a maximum of 40 packages |
| 5.B.3. | Aggregate samples | |
| The number of aggregate samples will vary with the size of the sampled portion. The minimum number of aggregate samples per sampled portion is given below. The total weight of the incremental samples making up each aggregate sample shall be not less than 4kg. | ||
| 5.B.3.1. | Loose feedingstuffs | |
| Size of the sampled portion in metric tons: | Minimum number of aggregate samples per portion: | |
Up to 1 More than 1 and up to 10 More than 10 and up to 40 More than 40 | 1 2 3 4 | |
| 5.B.3.2. | Packaged feedingstuffs size of the sampled portion in number of packages: | Minimum number of aggregate samples per sampled portion: |
1 to 16 17 to 200 210 to 800 more than 800 | 1 2 3 4 | |
| 5.B.4. | Final samples | |
| Each aggregate sample gives the final samples on reduction. Analysis of at least one final sample per aggregate sample is required. The weight of the final sample for analysis may not be less than 500g. | ||
(1) For packaged feeding stuffs, a part of the contents of the packages to be sampled shall be removed, using a spear or shovel, after having, if necessary, emptied the packaged separately. | |
(2) Any lumps shall be broken up (if necessary by separating them out and returning them to the sample) in each aggregate sample separately. | |
| 6.2. | Incremental samples |
| 6.2.A. | In relation to the control of substances or products uniformly distributed throughout the feedingstuff |
| Incremental samples must be taken at random throughout the whole sampled portion and they must be of approximately equal sizes. | |
| 6.2.A.1. | Loose feedingstuffs |
| A notional division shall be made of the sampled portion into a number of approximately equal parts. A number of parts corresponding to the number of incremental samples required in accordance with 5.A.2. shall be selected at random and at least one sample taken from each of these parts. | |
| Where appropriate, sampling may be carried out when the sampled portion is being moved (loading or unloading). | |
| 6.2.A.2. | Packaged feedingstuffs |
| Having selected the required number of packages for sampling as indicated in 5.A.2, part of the contents of each package shall be removed using a spear or shovel. Where necessary, the samples shall be taken after emptying the packages separately. | |
| 6.2.A.3. | Homogeneous or homogenizable liquid or semi-liquid feedingstuffs |
| Having selected the required number of containers for sampling as indicated in 5.A.2, the contents shall be homogenized if necessary and an amount taken from each container. | |
| The incremental samples may be taken when the contents are being discharged. | |
| 6.2.A.4. | Non-homogenizable, liquid or semi-liquid feedingstuffs |
| Having selected the required number of containers for sampling as indicated in 5.A.2, samples shall be taken from different levels. | |
| Samples may also be taken when the contents are being discharged by the first fractions should be discarded: | |
| In either case the total volume taken must not be less than 10 litres. | |
| 6.2.A.5. | Feed blocks and mineral licks |
| Having selected the required number of blocks or licks for sampling as indicated in 5.A.2, as part of each block or lick shall be taken. | |
| 6.2.B. | In relation to the control of undesirable substances or products likely to be distributed non-uniformly throughout the feedingstuff, such as aflatoxins, rye ergot, castor-oil plant and crotalaria in straight feedingstuffs. |
| A notional division shall be made of the sampled portion into a number or approximately equal parts, corresponding to the number of aggregate samples provided for in 5.B.3. If this number is greater than one, the total number of incremental samples provided for in 5.B.2. shall be distributed approximately equally over the different parts. Then samples of approximately equal sizes(1), and such that the total amount in the samples from each part is not less than the minimum 4kg quantity required for each aggregate sample, shall be taken. Incremental samples taken from different parts shall not be aggregated. | |
| 6.3. | Preparation of aggregate samples |
| 6.3.A. | In relation to the control of substances of products distributed uniformly throughout the feedingstuff |
| The incremental samples shall be mixed to form a single aggregate sample. | |
| 6.3.B. | In relation to the control of undesirable substances or products likely to be distributed non-uniformly throughout the feedingstuff, such as aflatoxins, rye ergot, castor-oil plant and crotalaria in straight feedingstuffs |
| The incremental samples from each part of the sampled portion shall be mixed and the number of aggregate sampled provided for in 5.B.3, made up taking care to note the origin of each aggregate sample. | |
| 6.4. | Preparation of final samples |
| The material in each aggregate sample shall be carefully mixed to obtain an homogenized sample(2). If necessary the aggregate sample should first be reduced to at least 2kg or two litres (reduced sample) either by using a mechanical divider or by the quartering method. | |
| At least three final samples shall then be prepared, of approximately the same amount and conforming to the quantitative requires of 5.A.4 or 5.B.4. Each sample shall be put into an appropriate container. All necessary precautions shall be taken to avoid any change of composition of the sample, contamination or adulteration which might arise during transportation or storage. | |
1. Each container of a final sample shall be so secured and sealed by the person taking the sample that the container cannot be opened without breaking the seal; alternatively the container may be place in a stout envelope or in a linen, cotton or plastic bag, and this further receptacle then secured and sealed in such a manner that the contents cannot be removed without breaking the seal or the receptacle.
2. A label shall be attached to the container or receptacle containing the final sample and sealed in such a manner that it cannot be removed without the seal being broken. The label shall be marked with the following particulars, which shall be visible without the seal being broken:
(a)name of the inspector and the authority by which he was authorised to take the sample;
(b)identification mark given by the inspector to the sample;
(c)place of sampling;
(d)date of sampling;
(e)name of the material; and
(f)identification code, batch reference number or consignment identification of the material sampled, where readily available.
3. The container or receptacle referred to above may also be secured and sealed by the holder of the material sampled or person acting on his behalf.
4. The label referred to above shall be signed or initialled by the person taking the sample or by or on behalf of the holder of the material sampled.