Overview - ISO 13307:2013 (Microbiology of food - Primary production - Sampling techniques)
ISO 13307:2013 provides standardized sampling techniques for the primary production stage of food-animal chains (farm to harvest or entry to slaughterhouse). Its focus is on reliable detection or enumeration of viable microorganisms, with particular reference to food-borne pathogens. The standard is explicitly not intended for diagnosis of animal disease. It sets out general rules for personnel, packaging and labelling, sampling equipment, diluents/neutralizers, and specific sampling contexts (farm environment, animals, hatcheries, transport and storage).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope & limitations
- Applies to microbiological sampling in the primary production stage; excludes animal disease diagnosis.
- Sampling personnel
- Sampling must be performed by trained, experienced personnel.
- Packing, labelling and documentation
- Samples must be packed to avoid cross-contamination and moisture loss.
- Minimum sample data: matrix type, unique ID, sampler name/initials, date/time, place - recorded on a sampling form accompanying samples.
- Diluents, transport media and neutralizers
- Acceptable diluents include peptone salt solution, buffered peptone water, sterile or potable water (where appropriate).
- Transport media examples (for sensitive organisms) noted; neutralizers and a general-use neutralizer composition are provided to counteract disinfectant residues.
- Apparatus and materials
- Sterilization of non-disposable equipment; use of disposable gloves, overboots, fabric swabs, stick swabs, bootswabs, etc.
- Technique categories
- Farm environment: surface sampling, floors, dust, water, Moore’s drain swabs, rope swabs, in-line milk filters.
- Animal sampling: on-farm sampling and sampling at slaughter.
- Hatchery sampling: hatcher basket liners, broken eggshells, hatcher fluff, meconium, macerated waste, dead-in-shell embryos, cull chicks.
- Transport: vehicles, modules, poultry crates and post-cleaning sampling.
- Storage and transport
- General recommendations for sample handling and special guidance for sensitive organisms.
Practical applications and users
ISO 13307:2013 is used by:
- Food safety and quality managers in farms, hatcheries, and slaughterhouses
- Microbiologists and diagnostic laboratories receiving primary-production samples
- Regulatory inspectors, auditors, and HACCP teams performing on-farm surveillance
- Animal transport and biosecurity officers monitoring contamination and cleaning efficacy
Benefits include improved comparability of results, reduced cross-contamination, and consistent procedures for detecting food‑borne pathogens at the farm/hatchery level.
Related standards
- ISO 6887-1 - Preparation of test samples, initial suspension and decimal dilutions
- ISO 7218 - General requirements and guidance for microbiological examinations
Keywords: ISO 13307:2013, sampling techniques, microbiology of food, primary production, food-borne pathogens, farm sampling, bootswabs, neutralizer, transport media.
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