Batch and lot number
A unique code identifying a quantity of product made under the same conditions, from the same raw materials and in the same time window. It appears on packages, the COA and the packing list, and lets you trace which goods are affected by a complaint or recall. Lot-level traceability is a legal requirement in chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and feed; buyers of plastics and metals may also ask for single-lot shipments for consistent quality.
Related terms
Certificate of analysis (COA)
A document in which the producer or an independent laboratory reports the test results for a specific lot together with the specification limits. It shows the product name, lot number, production date, test method (e.g. ASTM, ISO), measured value and acceptance range. A TDS gives a product’s typical properties; a COA gives the actual values of the lot delivered. Under a letter of credit the COA must be issued by the party and with the content the credit requires.
Sampling (representative sample)
Taking samples so that they represent the whole lot, following standard methods – e.g. ISO 24333 for grain, ISO 3082 for ores, ASTM D4057 for liquids. In bulk loading, increments taken at intervals are combined and divided, and usually three or four identical samples are sealed: one for the seller, one for the buyer and one retained for umpire analysis. At the quotation stage, small type samples are tested for suitability; the contract should commit that the shipment will match the approved sample.
Traceability (supply-chain transparency)
The ability to document, at every stage from source – mine, farm, forest or refinery – to end user, who processed a raw material, where, and from which lot. It is becoming mandatory in raw material trade because of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), OECD guidance on conflict minerals and recycled-content claims such as ISCC or GRS. Geolocation data, mass balance and digital product passports are key concepts here.