{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2007-333/annex/part-B/division-B.2/division-B.2.2",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2007-333/annex/part-B/division-B.2/division-B.2.2.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2007/333",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 of 28 March 2007 laying down the methods of sampling and analysis for the control of the levels of trace elements and processing contaminants in foodstuffs (Text with EEA relevance)",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2007-333",
  "path": "annex/part/B/division/B.2/division/B.2.2",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": "B.2.2",
  "heading": "Number of incremental samples",
  "text": "The aggregate sample shall be at least 1 kg or 1 litre except where it is not possible, e.g. when the sample consists of 1 package or unit.\nThe minimum number of incremental samples to be taken from the lot or sublot shall be as given in Table 3.\nIn the case of bulk liquid products the lot or sublot shall be thoroughly mixed in so far as possible and in so far it does not affect the quality of the product, by either manual or mechanical means immediately prior to sampling. In this case, a homogeneous distribution of contaminants is assumed within a given lot or sublot. It is therefore sufficient to take three incremental samples from a lot or sublot to form the aggregate sample.\nThe incremental samples shall be of similar weight/volume. The weight/volume of an incremental sample shall be at least 100 grams or 100 millilitres, resulting in an aggregate sample of at least about 1 kg or 1 litre. Departure from this method shall be recorded in the record provided for under point B.1.8 of this Annex.\nTable 1\nSubdivision of lots into sublots for products traded in bulk consignments\nLot weight (ton)\nWeight or number of sublots\n≥ 1 500\n500 tonnes\n> 300 and < 1 500\n3 sublots\n≥ 100 and ≤ 300\n100 tonnes\n< 100\n—\nTable 2\nSubdivision of lots into sublots for other products\nLot weight (ton)\nWeight or number of sublots\n≥ 15\n15-30 tonnes\n< 15\n—\nTable 3\nMinimum number of incremental samples to be taken from the lot or sublot\nWeight or volume of lot/sublot (in kg or litre)\nMinimum number of incremental samples to be taken\n< 50\n3\n≥ 50 and ≤ 500\n5\n> 500\n10\nIf the lot or sublot consists of individual packages or units, then the number of packages or units which shall be taken to form the aggregate sample is given in Table 4.\nTable 4\nNumber of packages or units (incremental samples) which shall be taken to form the aggregate sample if the lot or sublot consists of individual packages or units\nNumber of packages or units in the lot/sublot\nNumber of packages or units to be taken\n≤ 25\nat least 1 package or unit\n26-100\nabout 5 %, at least 2 packages or units\n> 100\nabout 5 %, at maximum 10 packages or units\nThe maximum levels for inorganic tin apply to the contents of each can, but for practical reasons it is necessary to use an aggregate sampling approach. If the result of the test for an aggregate sample of cans is less than but close to the maximum level of inorganic tin and if it is suspected that individual cans might exceed the maximum level, then it might be necessary to conduct further investigations.\nWhere it is not possible to carry out the method of sampling set out in this chapter because of the unacceptable commercial consequences (e.g. because of packaging forms, damage to the lot, etc.) or where it is practically impossible to apply the abovementioned method of sampling, an alternative method of sampling may be applied provided that it is sufficiently representative for the sampled lot or sublot and is fully documented.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Substituted by Commission Regulation (EU) No 836/2011 of 19 August 2011 amending Regulation (EC) No 333/2007 laying down the methods of sampling and analysis for the official control of the levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, inorganic tin, 3-MCPD and benzo(a)pyrene in foodstuffs (Text with EEA relevance)."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2007/333/annex/part/B/division/B.2/division/B.2.2",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:53:01.572573+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}