01 / REVIEW
Keep input identities
Record each contributing lot before assigning a combined inventory identifier. Similar species statements or dimensions do not make two source histories interchangeable.
02 / REVIEW
Describe physical control
Note whether the materials remain distinguishable or have been commingled. The record should state what can actually be traced after the merge, not what the team hopes to infer later.
03 / REVIEW
Limit outgoing claims
Carry the relevant scope and uncertainty into subsequent records. If individual origin cannot be assigned after mixing, do not invent a precise board-to-origin mapping from the combined quantity alone.
A merged stock location can contain several histories
Combining material in one rack does not make its evidence identical. Before merging lots, decide whether their identities can still be tracked through labels, physical separation or a documented accounting method. If that relationship is lost, do not present each outgoing piece as though its original source is known.
Retain the parent identifiers, quantities and date of the merge. Record the new internal reference as a relationship to those parents, not as a replacement for their history. Do not transfer a claim supported for one parent to all material in the combined stock.
Follow a fictional merge
| Movement | Quantity | Record consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Lot A enters | 40 pieces | Retain A and its document set |
| Lot B enters | 60 pieces | Retain B and its separate document set |
| Combined stock M | 100 pieces | M links to both parents |
| Shipment from M | 30 pieces | Record the actual allocation basis; do not guess parent identity |
The arithmetic in this example balances, but that alone does not prove an origin claim. Quantity accounting and physical traceability answer different questions. A record may show how much left the stock while leaving which parent supplied those pieces unresolved.
Where a required claim depends on preserving identity, establish the allowed method before combining material. If the proposed merge would destroy the needed relationship, keep the lots separate and resolve the procedure first.
A lot-record scenario
Fictional example: two lots are stored together after labels are removed. The archive can retain both input documents, but cannot honestly assign an individual board to one source without further evidence.
Use the result
Keep the completed review with the relevant project record. Assign unresolved items before relying on a conclusion. If the material, condition or document changes, revisit the affected questions.
Evidence workspaceTechnical references
General background for the subject. Project worksheets and fictional situations are original review aids, not official agency forms.
APHIS: Lacey declaration guidance