Back to Background information main pageAADRThe European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road, commonly known as the ADR (from the abbreviation for the French title Accord européen relatif au transport international des marchandises Dangereuses par Route), governs transnational transport of hazardous materials.Aggregate sampleAlso known as ‘bulk sample’, ‘composite’ and ‘average’ sample. The combination of several incremental samples to create a sample that is representative of the lot from which they are taken so that the total quantity is sufficient to allow assessment of the lot with regard to all criteria (see Sample division system).AlAluminiumBBatchAn identifiable quantity of a commodity delivered at one time and determined by the official to have common characteristics, such as origin, variety, type of packing, packer, consignor, markings or production dates. Also known as ‘charge’ or ‘lot’.CCAS numberChemical Abstracts Service Registry Number (CAS RN). Unique numerical identifier assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to every chemical described in the open scientific literature. CAS RN is a registered trademark of the American Chemical Society (see www.cas.org)CENEuropean Committee for Standardisation.Chain of evidenceThe physical and documentary measures that provide a proven direct link between the declared cargo, the sample taken and the evidence given by the analyst regarding the classification of the cargo.ChargeAn identifiable quantity of a commodity delivered at one time and determined by the official to have common characteristics, such as origin, variety, type of packing, packer, consignor, markings or production dates. Also known as ‘batch’ or ‘lot’.CLPClassification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures — (European legislation)Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008.Confined spaceAny space where there is increased risk due to reduced ventilation which could lead to a build-up of flammable or toxic vapour, dust particles or a reduced level of oxygen.ConsignmentQuantity of a commodity found at the time of inspection and specified by a document. A consignment may consist of one or more types of produce or one or more lots.ContractorOrganisation specialising in sampling of specific goods (e.g. hazardous goods), which is authorised and qualified for sampling objectively and independently on behalf of customs authorities.Cross-sectional samplingA sample is taken through all layers to provide a representative cross-section. Also known as ‘cross-level sampling’.CUS numberCustoms Union and Statistics number. Unique numerical identifier assigned by DG TAXUD (European Commission, Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union) as an easy identifier to search the ECICS database and to communicate with customs authorities.DDangerous goodsDangerous goods are defined as goods which could pose a direct safety and health risk when sampled, particularly chemicals, chemical preparations and chemical waste material. In general these products are classified in the chemical and related chapters in the Combined Nomenclature.DeclarantIn these guidelines ‘declarant’ means ‘the person making the declaration for a customs procedure or, in the case of excise goods, the person responsible for the goods’.Dual-use goodsGoods, software or technology that can be used both for civilian and military applications.EECICSEuropean Customs Inventory of Chemical Substances ( link), an information tool managed by DG TAXUD which allows users to:identify chemicals clearly and easily;classify them correctly and easily in the Combined Nomenclature; andname them in all EU languages.ELSAEmergency life support apparatus: A combination of breathing apparatus and resuscitation equipment designed to assist with the escape or rescue of a person who has become trapped or overcome by fumes in a confined space.ENEuropean norm — European standards for the quality of materials, products or procedures (see www.cen.eu).EORIEconomic Operator Registration Identification. The EORI number is an unique identification number that companies are required to use when exchange data with Customs in all EU Member States.EUHEuropean Union hazard symbols: A set of mandatory warning signs under ( CLP). It entered into force on 20 January 2009. A full list of the signs and their meanings can be found by clicking here. These are compatible with the GHS.FFermentationThe conversion of a carbohydrate such as sugar into an acid or an alcohol.Field testAn immediate test carried out before or at the time the sample is drawn, as opposed to in a laboratory.Final sampleA representative part of the reduced sample or the homogenised aggregated sample.FumigantA chemical or gas present in a shipping container designed to prevent the deterioration of the cargo or to kill insects or other pests that may inadvertently have been in the container when it was stowed.GGHSGlobally Harmonised System (for labelling hazardous chemicals) (see www.unece.org).HH and P phrasesHazard and precautionary phrases or statements: These are a standard set of phrases (which have replaced the risk and safety phrases). Hazard statements describe physical, health and environmental hazards associated with a product. Precautionary statements describe recommended precautionary measures that should be taken to reduce the risks from the specified hazard. A full list of the phrases can be found by clicking here.HeterogeneousThe composition or physical characteristics of goods varies throughout the product.HomogeneousThe composition or physical characteristics of goods is uniform throughout the product.Homogenised sampleThe sample that is made from mixing the material in each aggregate sample by appropriate means to avoid errors due to non-homogeneity (see sample division system).HS codeThe harmonised commodity description and coding system of the tariff nomenclature is an internationally standardised system of names and numbers for classifying traded products. It is developed and maintained by the World Customs Organisation.IIATAThe International Air Transport Association is the trade association for the world’s airlines. They support many areas of aviation activity and help formulate industry policy on critical aviation issues such as air safety and the carriage of cargo including dangerous goods.ICSCInternational Chemical Safety Card (similar to the SDS). An example can be found by clicking here.IMDGThe International Maritime Dangerous Goods)Code IMDG Code was developed as an international code for the maritime transport of dangerous goods in packaged form, in order to enhance and harmonize the safe carriage of dangerous goods and to prevent pollution to the environment.Incremental sampleA quantity taken from one point in the same lot in a consignment, also known as the primary or spot sample (see sample division system).Intrinsically safeEquipment and wiring which is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy under normal or abnormal conditions to cause ignition of a specific hazardous atmospheric mixture in its most easily ignited concentration.ISOInternational Standards Organisation — worldwide standards for the quality of materials, products or procedures (see www.iso.org).LLaboratory sampleA final sample sent to or received by a laboratory (see sample division system).LotAn identifiable quantity of a commodity delivered at one time and determined by the official to have common characteristics, such as origin, variety, type of packing, packer, consignor, markings or production dates. Also known as ‘batch’ or ‘charge’.LSALow specific activity: Relates to radioactive materials. There are three grades of LSA materials: LSA-I, LSA-II and LSA-III. Either these materials have very low activity per unit mass or the material is in a form that is not easily dispersed.MNNanomaterialNanomaterial means a natural, incidental or manufactured material containing particles, in an unbound state or as an aggregate or as an agglomerate and where the particles have one or more external dimensions in the size range 1 nm-100 nm. For practical purposes, particles of nanomaterials will usually be invisible to the naked eye, whether airborne in liquid suspension or on dry surfaces unless found in significant concentrations.NPSNew Psychoactive Substances – i.e. psychoactive substances that have recently been developed and are not specifically mentioned in laws or regulations.OOSHAEuropean Agency for Safety and Health at Work (see osha.europa.eu).PPackageIndividually packaged part of a lot, including contents so as to facilitate handling and transport of a number of sales units or of products loose, or arranged in order to prevent damage by physical handling and transport. Road, rail, ship and air containers are not considered as packages.PEPolyethylene.PETPolyethylene terephthalate.Phytosanitary certificateDocument required to accompany the movement of certain plants and plant products when imported from or exported to countries outside the EU, certifying that they are free of specified quarantine pests.PPPolypropylene.PPEPersonal protective equipment: Covers any item of clothing or equipment designed to provide protection from a risk.PPMParts per million (e.g. mg/kg).Precursora compound that participates in a chemical reaction that produces another compound such as drugs and explosives.Primary sampleA quantity taken from one point in the same lot in a consignment. Also known as ‘incremental sample’ or ‘spot sample’.Provision in forceEU legislation and national legislation as long as national legislation is not in contradiction with EU legislation.PTFEPolytetrafluoroethylene.PVCPolyvinyl chloride.QRR and S phrasesA set of codified statements relating to the risks and safety measures for chemicals and compounds. They were replaced by H and P phrases.REACHRegistration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals: Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006.Reduced sampleA representative part of the aggregated sample, obtained from the aggregated sample by a process of reduction (see sample division scheme).Representative sampleA sample resulting from a sampling plan that can be expected adequately to reflect the average of the physical and chemical properties of the whole lot or consignment inspected.Reserve sampleA final sample identical to the laboratory sample, taken for the purpose of settling a dispute. Also known as ‘umpire’, ‘referee’ or ‘duplicate’ sample.Retail packageA retail package should be considered to be any pack specifically prepared for sale to an individual for domestic use ( see definition).In the case of a spice or herb this may mean a quantity as small as 10-25 g.For other commodities it will usually mean a package between 100 g and 2 kg (or 2 l).For certain commodities (e.g. Dog Food) this may also include sacs or bags up to 25 kg.Risk assessmentA protocol designed to establish the degree of hazard of a particular action or object based on the likelihood of injury, the severity of the injury and the measures that can be taken to reduce or eliminate the risk.SSafe working practiceAny written set of rules or procedures defining a safe way of working.Sample division systemA system for reducing the size of the aggregated sample ( link).Sample portionA quantity of product constituting a unit, and having characteristics presumed to be uniform.Sample sizeThe number of units, or quantity of material, constituting the sample.SamplingA procedure used to draw and constitute a sample.Sampling officerA person trained in sampling procedures and, where required, authorised to be the appropriate authority to take samples.Sampling planA predetermined procedure appropriate to the specific sampling situation for sampling and sample handling (including selection, withdrawal, preservation and preparation) of the samples to be removed from a lot or consignment.SCOSurface-contaminated objects: Applies to radioactive materials, for example low-activity naturally radioactive ores. There are two grades of SCO materials: SCO-I and SCO-II. Either these materials have very low activity per unit mass or the material is in a form that is not easily dispersed.SDSSafety data sheet: A form provided by the manufacturer/supplier of chemical products listing the characteristics, hazards and safety measures that apply to the product, identical to the SDS and similar to the ICSC.SorbentA material used to absorb liquids or gases.Spot sampleA quantity taken from one point in the same lot in a consignment. Also known as ‘incremental sample’ or ‘primary sample’.TTARICIntegrated Tariff of the European Communities: This is designed to show the various rules applying to specific products when imported into the EU. This includes the provisions of the Harmonised System and the Combined Nomenclature, but also additional provisions in EU legislation.TiTitaniumTransport index (TI)Applies to radioactive materials: the transport index is a scale from 0 (low) to 10 (high) indicating the amount of radiation given off by the product and received at a distance of 1 metre.UUN numberA four-digit substance identification number assigned by the United Nations Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (see www.unece.org)Union Customs CodeThe Union Customs Code compiles the rules, arrangements and procedures applicable to goods traded between the European Union and non-member countries. The Code is a single act covering the scope, definitions, basic provisions and content of European Union customs law ( link).UnitThe smallest discrete portion in a lot which should be drawn to form the whole or part of an incremental sample.VWWasteAny substance or object only intended for recovery or disposal.XYZBack to top
