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.
Related terms
Pre-shipment inspection (independent inspection) PSI
An independent inspection company – SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek, Cotecna, CCIC, ALS and others – checks quality, quantity, packing and marking, draws samples and issues a report before the goods are loaded. The contract should state whether results are “final at load port” or “final at discharge”. Some countries require inspection under certificate of conformity (CoC) programmes for imports. It is one of the most effective safeguards when working with a new supplier.
Umpire analysis
Analysis of the retained sealed sample by an independent laboratory agreed in advance, used when the seller’s and buyer’s results differ by more than the splitting limit set in the contract. It is common in ore and concentrate trade; the umpire result is usually binding, or is averaged with whichever party’s result is closer. The cost is normally borne by the party whose result is further from the umpire’s.
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.