Overview
ISO 5500:1986, "Oilseed residues - Sampling," is an International Standard published by ISO/TC 34 that defines accepted procedures and good practices for sampling oilseed residues (meals, agglomerates, slab cakes). The standard stresses obtaining representative samples through systematic collection of increments, preparation of a bulk sample, and successive reduction to laboratory samples. It includes practical guidance on sampling apparatus, lot sizes, handling damaged material, packing, labelling and dispatch of samples.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Definitions and sample types: increment (small quantity from one position), bulk sample (combined increments), reduced sample (after division), laboratory sample (for analysis).
- Lot sizing: lots are considered up to 500 t; each lot should yield one bulk sample per 500 t or part thereof.
- Increment collection: take increments from multiple, well-distributed positions so combined increments are representative of the lot; avoid run-off and contamination.
- Sampling methods by form:
- Meals/agglomerates: use cylindrical or conical samplers, hand scoops or mechanical samplers.
- Slab cakes: select cakes at random (e.g., five cakes per 500 t when in bulk; one cake from ≥2% of containers when in sacks).
- Sacks: up to 10 sacks - sample each; 11–100 sacks - sample 10 at random; >100 sacks - sample approximately the square root of the total (Annex E sampling plan).
- Sample reduction and quartering: bulk samples are mixed, quartered and reduced using dividing instruments until the required reduced sample size is reached; lumps must be crushed and re‑mixed.
- Damaged material: sample damaged-by-water material with two 1 kg sealed samples; other damaged material samples of 2 kg.
- Apparatus: examples illustrated in Annex A (sampling spear/trier, cylindrical sampler, pelican/falling-stream sampler, quartering irons); instruments must be clean, dry and non‑contaminating.
- Packing, labelling and dispatch: use woven cloth bags, metal boxes or airtight containers for volatile analyses (plastics not suitable for volatile hydrocarbons). Labels must record lot ID, shipment details, sampling date/place, sampler and contract/B/L references. Dispatch laboratory samples promptly (normally within 48 hours).
Applications and intended users
ISO 5500 is used by:
- Producers and processors of oilseed meals and cakes for quality control and contract fulfilment.
- Traders, exporters/importers and warehouses to ensure fair commercial sampling during loading, discharge and transfer.
- Inspectors and surveyors, port authorities, and arbitration bodies when resolving disputes based on analytical results.
- Laboratories preparing and analysing representative laboratory samples for compositional, contamination or mycotoxin testing (Annex C addresses non‑uniform undesirable substances).
Keywords: ISO 5500, oilseed residues sampling, bulk sample, laboratory sample, sampling apparatus, slab cakes, residue meals, sampling plan.
Related standards
ISO 5500 was prepared by ISO/TC 34 (Agricultural food products). Users should consult the latest ISO/TC 34 publications and any national sampling regulations for complementary test methods and lab analysis standards.
