Organic farming - sampling procedures

1. Organic Products Sampling
Procedures

2. Sampling
❖ Regular samples from field
❖ Transaction Certificate (TC)
❖ Input / Processor / Trading inspections
⮚ Samples shall be drawn for analysis in case of suspicion / use of
prohibited substances.
⮚ Samples shall be taken and analyzed for detecting possible
contamination which is not authorized for organic production

3. Testing Elements / Components
❖ Pesticides, Herbicides, Weedicides & Plant Growth
regulators
❖ Heavy metals (Chromium, Nickal, Arsenic, Lead, Mercury,
Cadmium)
❖ ETO and other colouring agent (dyes - Turmeric)
❖ Any other chemical Contamination specific to the exporting
Country
❖ GMO

4. Analysis and Residue testing
❖ As per APEDA Norms, for every year 5 % of the sample should be tested
❖ In addition to 5% shall be drawn and tested in case of suspicion arise.
❖ The samples shall be analysed in NABL Accredited ISO 17025 Certified
Laboratories and APEDA approved laboratories.
❖ All the sampling & testing requirements shall follow EU regulation 691/2013
and EU regulation 2023/2783.

5. APEDA approved Labs
APEDA Approved 57 Labs for testing Organic Products as on 06. 11. 2023
(https://apeda.gov.in/apedawebsite/HACCP/labs_Organic_06_November_2023.pdf.gov.in)
1.Chennai Mettex Lab Private Limited
Jothi Complex No. 83 MKN
Road Guindy Chennai 600 032
Tel: 044-22323163, 42179490/91 Fax: 044-22311034 vks@mettexlab.com
2.Interstellar Testing Centre Pvt. Ltd. ,
Plot No.2, Site No 12/2/A
Industrial Estate Perungudi, Sholinganallur Taluk, Chennai-600096
Tel:044-24962512/07760992716
Sd.babu@itclabs.com;
3.SMS Labs Services Private Limited,
39/6 Thiruvallur High Road
Puduchatrm Post Thirumazhisai Via Poonamalee TK Chennai 600 124
Tel: 044-26811997,26811993,444418694
sm@smsla.in; smslab2012@yahoo.in; sharadhangm@gmail.com;
4. Mats India Private Limited
1A, 1B, Perumal Koil Street
Nerkundram, Chennai 600 107 Tel: 044-42051415,
9840024009
chennai@matsgroup.com;
lab.enquiry@matsgroup.com;
5. SGS India Pvt. Ltd.
Opposite to State Bank of India 28 B/1 (SP), 28 B/2 (SP) 2nd Main
Road Ambattur Industrial Estate Chennai 600 058 Tel: 044-
66693109 Email: av.abraham@sgs.com
6. Bureau Veritas (India) Pvt. Ltd.
F-2, Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, Phase-III Ekkattuthangal,
Guindy Chennai-600032 Tel: 9874026463 Email:
jishnu.chattopadhyay@in.bureauveritas.com;
hari.prasad1@bureauveritas.com
7. Analytical Technology Laboratory
(Sri Gomuki Tex Chem Pvt Ltd) 1/93, Mylampatti Post, Mylampatti
, Coimbatore – 641062 Tel:9585509242 Email: lab@srigomuki.com
8. National Food Laboratory,
2nd Floor, North Wing & 3rd Floor, Central Documentation
Complex, Chennai Port Trust Building, Rajaji Salai, George Town,
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, 600001 Tel: 99000818505 Email:
venkatesh.si@ncml.com

6. Points to be considered for soil sample collection
1. A minimum of 5 samples/acre shall be drawn in the areas where the contamination risk is
perceived more. (for e.g. near the borders of the field, area adjacent to buffer zone
2. Sampling at several locations in a zig-zag pattern ensures homogeneity.
3. Fields, which are similar in appearance, production and past-management practices, can be
grouped into a single sampling unit.
4. Collect separate samples from fields that differ in colour, slope, drainage, past management
practices like liming, gypsum application, fertilization, croppig system etc.
5. Avoid sampling in dead furrows, wet spots, areas near trees, manure heaps and irrigation
channels.
6. For shallow rooted crops, collect samples up to 15 cm depth. For deep rooted crops, collect
samples up to 30 cm depth. For tree crops, collect profile samples.

7. Procedure for drawing soil samples
1. Remove the surface litter at the sampling spot
2. Make a V cut and remove thick slices of soil from top to bottom of exposed face of the ‘V’ shaped cut and place
in a clean container
1. Mix the samples thoroughly and remove foreign materials like roots, stones, pebbles and gravels.
2. Reduce the bulk to about half to one kilogram ( as prescribed by the laboratory) by quartering method
3. Three samples should be drawn sealed and affixed with TNOCD logo marking on the plain cloth bag or
polyethylene bag
4. Label the bag with information like name of the farmer, location, survey number, previous crop grown, present
crop, crop to be grown in the next season, date of collection, name of the inspector, status of the farm.
5. Sample slip shall accompany the sample which should be duly signed by the OCI and concerned operator.
6. One Sample slip to be forwarded to TNOCD
7. The operator shall remit required cost for analysis in the form of D.D.drawn in favour of the laboratory

8. Sample Slip

9. Procedure for drawing water samples
1. Water sample is collected in a clean glass bottle/plastic can (not made up of PVC).
2. A minimum of 3 samples of 1 litre (or size of the sample as prescribed by the laboratory) each
are drawn from source of irrigation.
3. The samples are sealed and affixed with TNOCD logo marking on the lid.
4. OCI shall send one sample to the operator and two samples to the evaluator [one sample for
testing and the remaining sample is kept as reference].
5. Sample slip (as prescribed in Form-3) shall accompany sample which shall be duly signed by
the OCI and concerned operator.
6. One Sample slip to be forwarded to TNOCD
7. The operator shall remit required cost for analysis in the form of D.D.drawn in favour of the

10. Procedure for drawing plant samples
★ Based on the stage of the crop, whole plant /leaf samples are drawn from 5 locations per
acre.
★ The whole plant and leaf samples are collected by random sampling method.
★ While collecting the leaf sample, 3rd leaf from the top (flag leaf) of the plant shall be
collected.
★ Samples drawn shall be reduced to requisite quantity based on quartering method.
What not to sample?
1. Diseased or dead plant material, damaged by insects, or mechanically injured.
2. Plants stressed severely by cold, heat, moisture deficiency or excess.
3. If roots are damaged by nematodes, insects or diseases.

11. Procedure for drawing plant samples (cont..)
★ Three samples of 100 gm (or size of the sample as prescribed by the laboratory) each shall be
drawn, sealed and affixed with TNOCD logo marking on the paper bag.
★ Inspector shall handed over one sample to the operator and one sample shall be sent for
testing lab & one sample to be holding by inspector
★ Sample slip (as prescribed in Form-3) shall accompany the sample.
★ Sample slip shall be duly signed by the Inspector and concerned operator. One Sample slip to be
forwarded to TNOCD
★ The operator shall remit required cost for analysis in the form of D.D.drawn in favour of the
laboratory concerned along with the sample.

12. Procedure for Drawing Product Samples
❖ Grains/fruits/nuts/pods/root etc. shall be collected for product
Analysis
❖ If the samples are kept in <5 units or bags/bins, samples shall be
drawn from all the bags.
❖ When the number of bags/units exceeds 5 but < 50, one sample shall
be drawn from every 5th bag.
❖ When the number of bags/units exceeds 50, ten samples shall be
drawn randomly from the whole lot.
❖ Samples drawn shall be reduced to requisite quantity of 1 kg (or size

13. Procedure for Drawing Product Samples (Cont..)
❖ Three samples of 1kg each shall be drawn sealed and affixed with
TNOCD logo marking on the polyethylene bag.
❖ Inspector shall handed over one sample to the operator and one sample shall
be sent for testing lab & one sample to be holding by inspector
❖ Sample slip (as prescribed in Form-3) shall accompany sample.
❖ Sample slip shall be duly signed by the Inspector and concerned operator.
One Sample slip to be forwarded to TNOCD
❖ The operator shall remit required cost for analysis in the form of D.D.drawn
in favour of the laboratory concerned along with the sample.

14. Communication of Result
❖ The results obtained from the laboratory are sent to the operator
concerned. Based on the results, either continuance of Certification /
withdrawal of certificate/extension of conversion period/rejection of a
particular lot is decided by TNOCD.
❖ The results of samples sent for analysis shall be recorded in sample and
analytical report register

15. Result

16. THANK YOU