certification centremeans a venue where certification is carried out;
closed operating circuitmeans a process for preparing or processing hops in such a way that no hops or processed products can be added or removed during the operation.
competent certification authoritymeans the body or department authorised by the Member State to carry out certification and to approve and control certification centres;
consignmentmeans a number of packages of hops with the same characteristics presented at the same time for certification by the same individual or associated producer or by the same processor;
hop productmeans a product derived from hop cones which have undergone a more significant transformation, such as hop powders, pellets or extracts;
hop production areasmeans the zones or regions of production in the list drawn up by the Member States concerned;
hopsmeans the inflorescences, of the (female) climbing hop plant (Humulus lupulus);
isomerised hop productmeans hop product in which the alpha acids have been almost totally isomerised;
markingmeans labelling and identification;
official surveillancemeans supervision of certification activities by the competent certification authority or its representatives.
prepared hopsmeans hops which have undergone final drying and final packaging;
representatives of a competent certification authoritymeans personnel either employed by the competent certification authority, or employed by a third party and authorised by the competent certification authority to carry out certification duties;
sealingmeans closure of the package in such a way that the means of closure will be damaged when the package is opened;
seeded hopsmeans hops marketed with a seed content exceeding 2 % of their weight after drying;
seedless hopsmeans hops marketed with a seed content not exceeding 2 % of their weight after drying;
unprepared hopsmeans hops which have undergone only preliminary drying and packaging;