Overview
ISO 7002:1986 - "Agricultural food products - Layout for a standard method of sampling from a lot" is an ISO technical layout guideline (prepared by ISO/TC 34) that specifies how to draft standard methods of sampling for agricultural and food products. It does not itself provide a sampling method or prescribe sampling actions; instead it defines the recommended structure, numbering and content for formal sampling standards so they are complete, consistent and easy to use.
Key topics and requirements
ISO 7002 focuses on the content and organization of a standard method of lot sampling. Key elements required or recommended in the layout include:
- Title, introduction, scope and field of application - clear definition of product state, purpose of sampling and limits of applicability.
- References and definitions - use of standardized sampling terminology (see Annex A) and cross-references to essential documents.
- Principle - concise description of the sampling approach and any assumptions (statistical or empirical).
- Administrative arrangements - responsibilities, qualifications of sampling personnel, representation of interested parties, and health/safety/security precautions.
- Identification and inspection of the lot - pre-sampling checks, segregation and marking.
- Sampling equipment and ambient conditions - list and description of required tools and environmental considerations.
- Sampling procedures - clauses on sample size, taking increments, preparation of bulk and reduced samples, and selection of prepacked items.
- Sample containers, packing, sealing and marking - filling, sealing, labeling and preparing samples for storage/transport.
- Precautions for storage and transportation - preserving sample integrity and chain-of-custody.
- Sampling report - mandatory administrative details, material sampled, sampling method, sealing/marking and other documentation.
- Annexes - Annex A: definitions of sampling terms; Annex B: English–French equivalent terms; Annex C: sampling-inspection flowchart.
The layout also recommends using standardized statistical vocabulary (ISO/TC 69) and the ISO 2145 clause-numbering system.
Applications and who uses it
ISO 7002 is aimed at authors and technical committees developing formal sampling standards and methods for agricultural and food products. Typical users include:
- Standards writers and technical committees
- National standards bodies and regulators drafting legally binding sampling procedures
- Food safety authorities, inspection agencies and customs officials who rely on standard methods
- Laboratories, quality managers and QA/QC teams needing consistent sampling documentation
- Independent sampling agents, arbitration bodies and trading partners who require reproducible, auditable sampling reports
By enforcing a consistent layout, ISO 7002 improves clarity, comparability and legal defensibility of sampling methods across trade, inspection and regulatory contexts.
Related standards
- ISO/TC 69 - statistical methods and sampling terminology
- ISO 2145 - numbering of divisions and sub-divisions in written documents
- Relevant product-specific sampling standards (e.g., ISO 6670 cited as an example)
Use keywords: ISO 7002, lot sampling, agricultural food products, sampling procedures, sampling report, sampling equipment, standard method.
