- batch
means batch as defined in Article 2(e) of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005.
- brine-matured cheeses
means cheeses matured and stored in brine until they are sold or packed.
- country of production
means the country indicated on the identification mark as provided for in point 6 of part B of Section I of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.
- fresh cheeses
means curd-style cheeses which do not undergo any ripening, for example cottage cheese, mozzarella, ricotta and quark.
- gravad fish
means fish that has been cured in salt and sugar without thermal treatment.
- meat products
means meat products as defined in point 7.1 of Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.
- modified atmosphere packaged food
means food that was packaged and hermetically sealed after the removal of air from the package and the replacement of that air with a strictly controlled gaseous mixture of carbon dioxide, oxygen, and/or nitrogen.
- mould-ripened cheeses
means cheeses in which the ripening has been accomplished primarily by the development of characteristic mould growth throughout the interior and/or on the surface of the cheese.
- packaged food
means food that has its entire surface covered in order to prevent direct contact of the food with the environment, either by permeable or impermeable wrapping.
- processing
means processing as defined in Article 2(1)(m) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs.
- ready-to-eat food
means ready-to-eat food as defined in Article 2(g) of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005.
- retail
means retail as defined in Article 3(7) of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety;
- ripened cheeses
means cheeses which are not ready for consumption shortly after manufacture but which must be held for such time, at such temperature, and under such other conditions as will result in the necessary biochemical and physical changes characterising the cheese in question.
- semi-soft cheeses
means cheeses that have a texture which is only slighter harder than the soft cheese category.
- shelf-life
means shelf-life as defined in Article 2(f) of Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005.
- smear-ripened cheeses
means cheeses in which during or after ripening, the cheese rind is treated or naturally colonised with desired cultures of micro-organisms, for instance Penicillium candidum or Brevibacterium linens.
- smoked fish
means fish cured by smoking.
- soft cheeses
means cheeses that have a percentage moisture, on a fat-free basis, higher than 67 %.
- vacuum packaged food
means food that was packaged and hermetically sealed after the removal of the air from the package.