Definition
Waxy products which are highly viscous pastes or solids, such as vaseline, paraffin wax, microcrystalline petroleum wax, bees wax or bitumen.
Pasty products such as casein, gelatin and dextrins are also covered in this card.
Waxy products in the form of (fine) powder, see specific card Chemicals, solid.
Liquid waxes, see specific cards Petroleum liquids and Chemicals, liquids.
For products in retail sale packages see specific card Retail packages and finished articles.
Recommended minimum quantity for each final sample
0,25 kg
Applicable standards (ISO and EU Norms) and relevant legislation
You should refer to your national legislation and national guidelines regarding sampling.
Equipment needed
| Suggested sampling tool depending on the method used | |||||||||
| Containers to be used for the sampling | |||||||||
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Safety precautions and risk assessment
Please refer to your national legislation and guidelines on health and safety. See SDS if available.
- Wear protective gloves and safety glasses.
- Under normal conditions of use, wax does not present particular health hazards except when heated. Waxes that are solid at ambient temperatures may be transported at raised temperatures (beware of temperatures of 50–70 °C) to facilitate loading or unloading from tanks. There is a risk of skin burns and eye damage if boiling spray comes into contact with the mucous membranes or the eyes.
- If splashed with hot product, wash immediately with abundant cold water to relieve the burning and obtain medical assistance immediately.
- Do not attempt to remove hot product from the skin or remove clothing that is stuck to the skin.
- Low-risk flammable material. The product can form flammable mixtures and burn only if heated above its flash point. However, the presence of small quantities of more volatile hydrocarbons can increase this risk.
For more information see chapter Health and Safety.
Sampling plan
| Type of consignment | Procedure |
| Consignments for customs clearance | The aggregate sample consists of an appropriate number of incremental samples. When you are satisfied the consignment is homogeneous, one incremental sample is usually taken as representing the goods covered by the same customs declaration. Ensure that the product being sampled remains unaltered by the sampling process. Do NOT re-heat samples as this may affect the properties of the sample — loss of volatile elements or physical/chemical change due to over-heating. |
| Bulk products - loose in tank, tanker truck, reservoir wagon, drums, tank cars — heated | |
Form one aggregate sample from three or more incremental samples, taken from at least three heights: approximately 15 % from the bottom, half-way up and approximately 15 % from the top surface of the product in each lot. Check the homogeneity of the lot — if the homogeneity is in doubt, take more incremental samples. Where the product is heated above 40 degrees, consider whether the consignment should be treated as dangerous goods and the sampling to be carried out by specially trained officers or a contractor. You should only proceed if you are satisfied that you have appropriate PPE and sampling equipment and can carry out the sampling safely. Warning: do not allow the product to cool in the tank or drums because it may be extremely difficult do remove the product if it solidifies. | |
| Bulk products - loose in tank, tank truck, reservoir wagon, drums, tank cars — not heated (ambient temperature) | |
Take one aggregate sample. If the product is in the form of a creamy paste or hard paste, take a number of incremental samples, dependent on the homogeneity in each lot. Check the homogeneity of the lot — if the homogeneity is in doubt, take more incremental samples. Different products or lots have to be sampled separately.
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| Barrels, crates, small containers — heated/not heated | |
| Take one aggregate sample. Equal quantities of incremental samples are taken from different transport containers found at different positions in the transport vehicle or in the storage facility by random selection or systematically. Check the homogeneity of the lot — if the homogeneity is in doubt, take more incremental samples. Different products or lots must be sampled separately. | |
| Bulk being moved with a conveyor or other flowing product during filling or emptying | |
| Take one aggregate sample from incremental samples, taken across the whole diameter of the stream, at intervals determined by the moving speed during filling or emptying of a tank, tanker truck or reservoir wagon. Use a pipeline sampler L06-01. Connect the filling/emptying pipe with a sampling accessory, consisting of a tap (whether or not heated), which draws incremental samples from the centre of the flow. Several samples should be taken at regular intervals throughout the transfer process. After taking the samples, quickly prepare the aggregate sample in an appropriate metal bucket by mixing vigorously and transfer the samples in appropriate containers. | |
Handling of samples
| General comments | |
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| Sampling form | |
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| Transport | |
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List of HS Codes
| HS Number *) | Description |
| 1505 | Wool grease and fatty substances derived therefrom (including lanolin) |
| 1516 | Animal or vegetable fats and oils and their fractions, partly or wholly hydrogenated, inter-esterified, re-esterified or elaidinised, whether or not refined, but not further prepared |
| 1521 | Vegetable waxes (other than triglycerides), beeswax, other insect waxes and spermaceti, whether or not refined or coloured |
| 1522 | Degras; residues resulting from the treatment of fatty substances or animal or vegetable waxes |
| 2712 | Petroleum jelly; paraffin wax, micro-crystalline petroleum wax, slack wax, ozokerite, lignite wax, peat wax, other mineral waxes, and similar products obtained by synthesis or by other processes, whether or not coloured |
| 2713 | Petroelum coke, petroleum bitumen and other residues of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals |
| 2714 | Bitumen and asphalt, natural; bituminous or oil shale and tar sands; asphaltites and asphaltic rocks |
| 2715 | Bituminous mixtures based on natural asphalt, on natural bitumen, on petroleum bitumen, on mineral tar or on mineral tar pitch (for example, bituminous mastics, cut-backs) |
| 3404 | Artificial waxes and prepared waxes |
| 3407 | Modelling pastes, including those put up for children’s amusement; preparations known as “dental wax” or as “dental impression compounds”, put up in sets, in packings for retail sale or in plates, horseshoe shapes, sticks or similar forms; other preparations for use in dentistry, with a basis of plaster (of calcined gypsum or calcium sulphate) |
| 3501 | Casein, caseinates and other casein derivatives; casein glues |
| 3503 | Gelatin (including gelatine in rectangular (including square) sheets, whether or not surface-worked or coloured) and gelatine derivatives; isinglass; other glues of animal origin, wxcluding casein glues of heading 35.01 |
| 3505 | Dextrins and other modified starches (for example, pregelatinised or esterified starches); glues based on starches or on dextrins or other modified starches |
| 3506 | Prepared glues and other prepared adhesives, not elsewhere specified or included: products suitable for use as glues or adhesives, put up for retail sale as glues or adhesives, not exceeding a net weight of 1 kg |
| 3823 | Industrial monocarboxylic fatty acids; acid oils from refining; industrial fatty alcohols |
| *) The commodities mentioned may also be covered by other specific sampling cards depending on their precise nature. |