Where the goods are found to be in retail packaging, you should always take whole retail packages as your sample. You may take more than one package if this is necessary to reach the minimum sample size.
Where the goods are found to be articles (e.g. timber, metal castings or sheets) you should generally take whole items.
However, for goods that are in bulk or in wholesale packages you will usually need to take smaller samples. It is important that you use the correct type of storage container for the goods.
Sample containers: general information and requirements
The type of container you should use for storing and transporting the samples is determined by the physical and chemical properties of the goods and the storage and transport requirements.
The container used for packing samples taken must meet the following requirements:
- it must not be affected by the sample (especially important for samples of chemical substances, petroleum products, solvents, foodstuffs — which may be acidic, etc.);
- it must ensure that the quality (integrity) of samples is maintained;
- it must be designed and manufactured in a way that allows leak-proof or air-tight closure;
- it must be strong enough to withstand transport and storage;
- it must be designed to ensure proper sealing and preclude unauthorised handling.
In choosing sampling containers you must follow the principles listed in Table 1.
The stoppers and caps used for closing the sample holders (bottles/containers) must ensure a tight seal to prevent any leakage or evaporation of the samples. The material of which the containers and stoppers are made must not be susceptible to chemical attack by the samples and must not interact with or contaminate them.
Depending on the nature of samples taken crown caps, plastic or metal screw caps additionally reinforced to ensure better sealing can be used. The use of cork and rubber plugs should be avoided.
The most commonly used sample containers are plastic or metal containers, glass bottles, metal canisters and plastic bags or boxes (see Table 2). The design of sample containers may vary in different Member States. The list of sample containers is therefore not exhaustive and other types of packages may be used provided they meet all the requirements.
Table 1
| Type of goods | Requirements for the package |
| Goods to be examined for humidity and fat content | Packaging must not absorb moisture or fat. |
| Perishable, frozen, and cooled goods | Packaging must not be affected by low temperature. |
| Goods containing volatile components | Stopper or cap must allow air-tight closure. |
| Liquid goods, prone to fermentation | Packaging must be closed with a screw-type stopper or cap. Samples of fruit juices or juices of plant origin must be frozen immediately and kept frozen until analysed. All other fermentable liquids must be mixed with 2 g of salicylic acid per 1 litre of sample, or another fermentation-slowing agent at an appropriate concentration. |
Table 2
| Type of Goods | Packaging Recommendation |
| Petroleum Products - liquid fuels, lubricants | Metal containers Glass bottles Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles |
| Organic solvents | Metal containers Glass bottles Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles |
| Liquid vegetable oils and fats | Metal containers Glass bottles Glass jars Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles |
| Various types of chemical substances | Metal containers Glass bottles Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles |
| Food products | Paper bags Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) bags, bottles, etc. Glass jars |
| Spirits and ethyl alcohol | Glass bottles Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles |
