audit — a systematic and independent examination to determine whether activities and related results comply with planned arrangements and whether these arrangements are implemented effectively and are suitable to achieve objectives 6)

competent authority — the central authority of a Member State competent for the organisation of official controls or any other authority to which that competence has been conferred; it shall also include, where appropriate, the corresponding authority of a third country 4)

control body — an independent third party to which the competent authority has delegated certain control tasks 5)

control plan — a description established by the competent authority containing general information on the structure and organisation of its official control systems 20)

documentary check — the examination of commercial documents and, where appropriate, of documents required under feed or food law that are accompanying the consignment 17)

equivalence — the capability of different systems or measures to meet the same objectives 14)

equivalent — different systems or measures capable of meeting the same objectives 14)

feed law — the laws, regulations and administrative provisions governing feed in general and feed safety in particular, whether at Community or national level; it covers all stages of production, processing and distribution of feed and the use of feed 3)

identity check — a visual inspection to ensure that certificates or other documents accompanying the consignment tally with the labelling and the content of the consignment 18)

import — the release for free circulation of feed or food or the intention to release feed or food for free circulation within the meaning of Article 79 of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92 in one of the territories referred to in Annex I 15)

inspection — the examination of any aspect of feed, food, animal health and animal welfare in order to verify that such aspect(s) comply with the legal requirements of feed and food law and animal health and animal welfare rules 7)

introduction — import as defined in point 15 above, and the placing of goods under the customs procedures referred to in points (b) to (f) of Article 4(16) of Regulation (EEC) No 2913/92, as well as their entry into a free zone or free warehouse 16)

monitoring — conducting a planned sequence of observations or measurements with a view to obtaining an overview of the state of compliance with feed or food law, animal health and animal welfare rules 8)

non-compliance — non-compliance with feed or food law, and with the rules for the protection of animal health and welfare 10)

official certification — the procedure by which the competent authority or control bodies, authorised to act in such a capacity, provide written, electronic or equivalent assurance concerning compliance 12)

official control — any form of control that the competent authority or the Community performs for the verification of compliance with feed and food law, animal health and animal welfare rules 1)

official detention — the procedure by which the competent authority ensures that feed or food is not moved or tampered with pending a decision on its destination; it includes storage by feed and food business operators in accordance with instructions from the competent authority 13)

physical check — a check on the feed or food itself which may include checks on the means of transport, on the packaging, labelling and temperature, the sampling for analysis and laboratory testing and any other check necessary to verify compliance with feed or food law 19)

products — the products of animal origin referred to in Directives 89/662/EEC and 90/425/EEC, in Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 808/2003 (OJ L 117, 13.5.2003, p. 1). , in Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11. and in Regulation (EC) No .../... of the European Parliament and of the Council of laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption OJ L ... (Note to OJ: Insert No and Date of Regulation)."; ; it also includes the plant products referred to in Article 19 2)

sampling for analysis — taking feed or food or any other substance (including from the environment) relevant to the production, processing and distribution of feed or food or to the health of animals, in order to verify through analysis compliance with feed or food law or animal health rules 11)

surveillance — a careful observation of one or more feed or food businesses, feed or food business operators or their activities 9)

verification — checking, by examination and the consideration of objective evidence, whether specified requirements have been fulfilled 2)