ISO 12099:2017

Overview - ISO 12099:2017 (NIR for feed, cereals, milled products)

ISO 12099:2017 provides guidelines for applying near infrared (NIR) spectrometry to determine constituents (e.g., moisture, fat, protein, starch, crude fibre) and technological parameters (e.g., digestibility) in animal feeding stuffs, cereals and milled cereal products. The standard covers measurement principles in the near infrared spectral region and sets out best practices for calibration, validation, sampling, instrument checks and statistical performance evaluation.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Spectral range and instruments: NIR instruments based on diffuse reflectance or transmittance covering approximately 770 nm to 2 500 nm (or segments thereof). Optical principles can be dispersive, interferometric or non-thermal (LEDs, laser diodes).
• Calibration & validation: Development and validation of calibration models using representative reference data. A solid validation requires a sufficient sample set (note: at least 20 samples recommended).
• Reference methods & traceability: Use internationally accepted chemical/standard reference methods for calibration and know the precision of those methods; use materials traceable to SI where possible.
• Outlier handling: Guidance for identifying and treating spectral (x‑outliers) and reference (y‑outliers), including checks on Mahalanobis distance, spectral residuals and prediction residuals.
• Statistics for performance: Evaluation metrics and diagnostics such as bias, slope, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), standard error of prediction (SEP), repeatability, reproducibility and uncertainty.
• Sampling & sample prep: Requirements for representative sampling, milling/grinding effects, and sample path length optimization for transmittance.
• Instrument stability & QA: Control samples, instrument diagnostics, networked instrument considerations and control charts for ongoing performance monitoring.
• Procedure & reporting: Measurement procedures, result evaluation and recommended elements for test reports.

Practical applications and users

• Quality control and rapid screening in feed mills, grain elevators, cereal processors and pet-food production.
• Routine lab and on-line monitoring for moisture, protein, fat, starch and fibre content.
• Feed formulation, acceptance testing of raw materials, and digestibility parameter estimation.
• Users: QA/QC managers, laboratory analysts, NIR instrument manufacturers, calibration specialists and accreditation bodies.

Related standards and references

• ISO 12099:2017 was drafted using ISO 21543 | IDF 201 as a basis; it also references established chemical reference methods for calibration (see the document’s bibliography and referenced methods).
• Complementary standards: laboratory methods for moisture, fat, protein and fiber determination used as reference procedures.

ISO 12099 is essential for organizations wanting robust, traceable, and reproducible NIR applications in animal feed and cereal testing, supporting faster decision-making and improved quality control.