Sample containers

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.

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

No	Type of Goods	Packaging Recommendation
1	Petroleum Products - liquid fuels, lubricants	Metal containers Glass bottles Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles
2	Organic solvents	Metal containers Glass bottles Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles
3	Liquid vegetable oils and fats	Metal containers Glass bottles Glass jars Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles
4	Various types of chemical substances	Metal containers Glass bottles Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles
5	Food products	Paper bags Polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) bags, bottles, etc. Glass jars
6	Spirits and ethyl alcohol	Glass bottles Polypropylene (PP) bottles Polyethylenterephtalate (PET) bottles

Code	Container Type	Suitable for
P00	Plastic bags Different sizes With or without pre-printed label Click to enlarge picture	Goods taken in form of pieces such as tiles, wood, paper, textiles, metal sheets, various articles, etc. goods in their retails sale packages tobacco dried fruit flour sand sugar starch
P01	Plastic bottle Narrow opening Normal size 100 ml to 500 ml Leak-proof closure Click to enlarge picture	Non-volatile liquids, such as: petroleum products such as kerosene, gas oil, heating oil, lubricants etc. with exception of gasoline fatty acids methylesters (FAME) and mixtures of FAME with mineral oils vegetable oils juices and syrups non-alcoholic beverages surface active agents and preparations non-volatile chemicals and chemical preparation
P02	Plastic bottle Narrow opening Normal size 50 ml to 100 ml Leak-proof closure Click to enlarge picture	High-value goods, such as: fragment of precious metals diamonds pure chemicals spices metal chips or fragments
P03	Plastic bottle Wide mouth opening Normal size 100 ml to 500 ml Leak-proof closure Click to enlarge picture	Powdered and granulated materials or pastes, such as: lubricating greases Vaseline sand sugar starch instant beverages tea solidified vegetable oils and fats tobacco
P04	Plastic bottle Wide mouth opening Normal size 500 ml to 1000 ml Leak-proof closure Click to enlarge picture	Dried fruit, powdered materials and pastes, such as: flour paints and varnishes
P05	Plastic bottle Small size 50 ml to 100 ml Air-tight closure Click to enlarge picture	High-value volatile liquids, such as: foodstuffs aromatics foodstuff supplements fragrances, cosmetics, essences etc. light-sensitive materials (stored in dark containers)
P06	Plastic bottle Small size 100 ml to 500 ml Air-tight closure Click to enlarge picture	Liquids, such as: spirit and alcoholic beverages denatured spirit antifreeze solutions soap and cleaning solutions organic solvents and thinners
P07	Plastic bottle Normal size 500 ml to 1000 ml Air-tight closure Click to enlarge picture	Liquid foodstuffs, such as: wine beer low-alcohol beverages and solutions
R00	Paper bags Different sizes With or without pre-printed label Click to enlarge picture	Tobacco Plants Goods taken in form of pieces, such as: tiles, wood, paper, textiles, metal sheets and articles.
R01	Cardboard boxes, cartons Different sizes With or without pre-printed label Click to enlarge picture	Tobacco Plants Goods taken in form of pieces, such as: tiles, wood, paper, textiles, metal sheets and articles.
G01	Glass bottle Large size 500 ml to 1000 ml Leak-proof closure Click to enlarge picture	Special liquids, such as: white spirit gasoline spirit and alcoholic beverages light sensitive samples (e.g. olive oil) organic solvents and thinners light sensitive liquids (stored in dark receptacles)
M01	Metal can Large size 500 ml to 1000 ml Leak-proof closure Click to enlarge picture	Special liquids, such as: white spirit gasoline spirit and alcoholic beverages organic solvents and thinners light sensitive liquids (e.g vegetable oils)
M02	Metal bottle Large size 500 ml to 1000 ml Narrow opening Leak-proof closure Click to enlarge picture	Special liquids, such as: white spirit gasoline spirit and alcoholic beverages organic solvents and thinners Do not use for acidic or basic liquids, such as vinegar or brine!
M10	Metal gas cylinder Medium size Click to enlarge picture	Gases and liquefied gases