ISO 6498:2012

Overview - ISO 6498:2012 (Animal feeding stuffs - Guidelines for sample preparation)

ISO 6498:2012 provides practical guidelines for preparing test samples from laboratory samples of animal feeding stuffs, including pet foods. It describes procedures to obtain representative test samples and test portions, minimising sampling and preparation errors so analytical results (chemical, physical and some biological parameters) are reliable. The standard is a general guideline and is overruled by any special instructions or regulations required by a specific analytical method.

Key topics and technical requirements

ISO 6498:2012 covers the full sample-preparation workflow and quality controls, including:

• Terms and definitions (lot, laboratory sample, test sample, reserve sample, stable/unstable parameters).
• Principles of representative subsampling and error sources (subsampling, division and particle-size effects).
• Minimum mass considerations and calculations to ensure statistical representativeness (Annex A provides examples and tables).
• Mass reduction (division) and particle size reduction (grinding) techniques and limits to avoid bias.
• Partial drying, coarse grinding, storage and handling to protect sensitive analytes.
• Safety precautions and required apparatus for safe, compliant preparation.
• Performance tests (quality control) for mass reduction, particle-size reduction and mixing to validate procedures.
• Special procedures and flow charts for diverse feed categories (e.g., dry feeds, forages, oilseeds, mineral mixes, canned and semi‑moist pet foods, liquid feeds, premixes).
• Treatment of unstable parameters (volatile compounds, vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, mycotoxins) and when special preparation is necessary.
• Note: microbiological sample-preparation for environmental microorganisms is not included, though some guidance for probiotic organisms used as additives is provided.

Practical applications - who uses ISO 6498:2012

This standard is essential for:

• Analytical laboratories performing feed testing (nutrients, contaminants, mycotoxins, additives).
• Feed manufacturers and quality control teams establishing or validating sample-preparation procedures.
• Regulatory bodies and auditors evaluating conformity of sampling and lab preparation to international practice.
• Research organizations working on feed composition, safety and nutrition.

Using ISO 6498 helps ensure representative sampling, reduces analytical variability, and supports defensible compliance testing and product quality decisions.

Related standards and references

• References the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 152/2009 for sampling rules and aligns with ISO/CEN methods for specific analyses.
• Guidelines draw on practices from AAFCO and collaborate with ISO TC 34 / CEN TC 327 documents; specific analytical standards may overrule portions of ISO 6498 where required.

Keywords: ISO 6498:2012, animal feeding stuffs, sample preparation, feed testing, laboratory sample, test sample, particle size reduction, subsampling, pet food sample preparation.