Overview
EN ISO 6498:2012 (ISO 6498:2012) provides harmonized guidelines for preparing test samples from laboratory samples of animal feeding stuffs, including pet foods. Prepared by CEN in collaboration with ISO, the standard focuses on practical, reproducible procedures to obtain representative test samples for chemical, biological and physical analyses. It clarifies terminology (lot, laboratory sample, test sample, test portion, reserve sample) and reminds users that specific analytical methods or legal regulations may supersede these guidelines.
Key topics
- Scope and definitions - clear terms for lot, laboratory sample, test sample, test portion and reserve sample to ensure consistent sampling workflows.
- Principles and error control - discussion of subsampling errors, mass-reduction errors and how to minimise them.
- Minimum mass - guidance for determining adequate sample sizes to be statistically representative.
- Division techniques and equipment - recommended apparatus and methods for mass reduction (division), mixing and splitting to reduce bias.
- Particle size reduction (grinding) - procedures for coarse grinding, fine grinding and particle-size targets (note: corrected text clarifies particle sizes of 4 mm to 6 mm).
- Special sample types - flow charts and specific remarks for categories such as forages, oilseeds, mineral mixes, liquid feeds, canned and semi‑moist pet foods, premixtures and more.
- Stability considerations - classification of stable vs unstable parameters (e.g., vitamins, volatile compounds, microorganisms, mycotoxins) and implications for sample handling.
- Safety, storage and quality control - safety precautions, storage of reserve samples and performance tests for division, grinding and mixing to maintain quality assurance.
Applications and users
EN ISO 6498:2012 is intended for:
- Analytical and veterinary laboratories preparing test samples for feed composition, contaminants, additives and nutritional analyses
- Feed and pet food manufacturers implementing quality control and incoming material testing
- Regulatory agencies and inspection bodies assessing compliance with feed legislation
- Certification bodies and auditors verifying sample integrity and test reproducibility
Practical benefits include improved representativeness of test portions, reduced subsampling bias, and consistent sample handling across laboratories and feed types.
Related standards
- ISO and CEN analytical method standards for specific tests (chemical, microbiological) - note: where such methods give specific sample‑prep rules, they take precedence.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 152/2009 is referenced in relation to sampling rules for lots.
Keywords: EN ISO 6498:2012, ISO 6498:2012, sample preparation, animal feeding stuffs, pet food, subsampling, particle size reduction, grinding, minimum mass, reserve sample, feed testing.
