Inspection of goods at origin - prerequisite for proper purchasing decisions

By Dr. Werner Nader and Silke Heimbecher, Eurofins Global Control GmbH, Germany

Eurofins offers sampling and inspection of goods prior to shipment worldwide to provide customers with a sound basis for buying decisions. Only analytical results from samples, which are representative for the whole lot, are reliable. Risks are frequently hidden in parts of lots, e.g. mycotoxins such as aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, which occur at high concentrations in hot spots of the cargo.

Representative sampling requires special methods, which have to be adapted to the specific product types and analytical parameters. Based on statistical functions, optimal sample numbers and sizes have to be calculated to detect potential non-compliant incidences with a high confidence. Specific sampling procedures have been defined by government authorities, like the EU Commission SANCO and the USDA, and are followed strictly by Eurofins inspectors.

A challenge for the inspector/sampler is the detection of mycotoxins and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in raw materials such as grain and seeds. For imports into the EU, contamination with GMOs poses a specific risk as there is a zero-tolerance policy for non-approved varieties in food. Where traces of genetically modified DNA are found it might render a whole lot of many hundred tons illegal. With a detection limit of 1 in 10,000, GMO analysis using genetic techniques (PCR) requires the testing of numerous sub-lot samples to detect minor contaminations at a level of 0.01 %. Pesticides are possibly more evenly distributed over the cargo, and sampling is frequently carried out directly on the farm to approve each plot for harvest.

Sampling and inspection requires a good communication between inspector, customer and supplier. As failed results from inspection and analysis frequently determine if acceptance is given for shipment, any delay might cause significant financial losses. The inspector is the “eye of the customer” at supplier’s site, checking and reporting any irregularities. In addition to inspection and sampling, Eurofins is providing auditing services at farms, packing houses and factory level.

Contact: global@eurofins.de