This Regulation lays down detailed rules concerning the certification of hops and hop products.

Without prejudice to paragraph 3(a), only certified hops, certified hop products prepared from certified hops and hops imported from third countries in accordance with F6Article 190 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 may be used in the manufacture of products prepared from hops.

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

1. (a)

   ‘unprepared hops’ means hops which have undergone only preliminary drying and packaging;

2. (b)

   ‘prepared hops’ means hops which have undergone final drying and final packaging;

3. (c)

   ‘seeded hops’ means hops marketed with a seed content exceeding 2 % of their weight;

4. (d)

   ‘seedless hops’ means hops marketed with a seed content not exceeding 2 % of their weight;

5. (e)

   ‘sealing’ means closure of the package under official surveillance and in such a way that the means of closure will be damaged when the package is opened;

6. (f)

   ‘closed operating circuit’ means a process for preparing or processing hops carried out under official surveillance and in such a way that no hops or processed products can be added or removed during the operation. The closed operating circuit starts with the opening of the sealed package containing the hops or hop products to be prepared or processed and ends with the sealing of the package containing the processed hops or hop product;

7. (g)

   ‘consignment’ means a number of packages of hops or hop products with the same characteristics presented at the same time for certification by the same individual or associated producer or by the same processor;

8. (h)

   ‘hop production areas’ means the zones or regions of production in the list prepared by the F8appropriate authorities in accordance with Article 23 of this Regulation;

9. (i)

   ‘concentrated hop powder’ means product obtained by the action of a solvent on the product obtained by milling the hops, containing all the natural elements thereof;

10. (j)

    ‘competent certification authority’ means the body or department authorised by the F9appropriate authority to carry out certification and to approve and control certification centres;

11. (k)

    ‘marking’ means labelling and identification;

12. (l)

    ‘certification centre’ means a venue where certification is carried out;

13. (m)

    ‘representatives of a competent certification authority’ means either personnel employed by the competent certification authority, or employed by a third party and authorised by the competent certification authority to carry out certification duties;

14. (n)

    ‘official surveillance’ means supervision of certification activities by the competent certification authority or its representatives;

15. (o)

    ‘isomerised hop product’ means hop product in which the alpha acids have been almost totally isomerised.

16. (p)

    F10 ‘constituent nation’ means England, Wales or Scotland, as the case may be;

17. (q)

    ‘third country’ means any country or territory other than:

    1. (i)

       the United Kingdom;

    2. (ii)

       the Bailiwick of Jersey;

    3. (ii)

       the Bailiwick of Guernsey;

    4. (vi)

       the Isle of Man.