CAC/GL 50-2004 General guidelines on sampling
PREAMBLE
RATIONALE
Codex Food Standards are aimed at protecting consumers’ health and ensuring fair practices in the food trade.
Codex Methods of Sampling are designed to ensure that fair and valid sampling procedures are used when food is being tested for compliance with a particular Codex commodity standard. The sampling methods are intended for use as international methods designed to avoid or remove difficulties which may be created by diverging legal, administrative and technical approaches to sampling and by diverging interpretation of results of analysis in relation to lots or consignments of foods, in the light of the relevant provision(s) of the applicable Codex standard.
The present guidelines have been elaborated to facilitate the implementation of these goals by Codex Commodity Committees, governments and other users.
BASIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SELECTION OF CODEX SAMPLING PLANS
The present clause represents a pre-requisite to the use of these Guidelines, and is intended to facilitate the selection of Codex sampling plans, as well as to follow a systematic approach for this selection.
The following enumerates the essential points that the Codex commodity committees, Governments and other users should address for the selection of appropriate sampling plans, when setting-up specifications.
