1. For the purposes of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply:
(a) TSEs: all transmissible spongiform encephalopathies with the exception of those occurring in humans;
(b) placing on the market: any operation the purpose of which is to sell live animals or products of animal origin covered by this Regulation to a third party in the Community, or any other form of supply against payment or free of charge to such a third party or storage with a view to supply to such a third party;
(c) products of animal origin: any product derived from or containing a product derived from any animal covered by the provisions of Directive 89/662/EEC(5) or Directive 90/425/EEC(6);
(d) starting materials: raw materials or any other product of animal origin out of which, or with the help of which, the products referred to in Article 1(2)(a) and (b) are produced;
(e) competent authority: the central authority of a Member State competent to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Regulation or any authority to which that central authority has delegated that competence, in particular for the control of feedingstuffs; it shall also include, where appropriate, the corresponding authority of a third country;
(f) category: one of the classification categories referred to in Chapter C of Annex II;
(g) specified risk material: the tissues specified in Annex V; unless otherwise indicated, it does not include products containing or derived from those tissues;
(h) animal suspected of being infected by a TSE: live, slaughtered or dead animals, which show or have shown neurological or behavioural disorders or a progressive deterioration of the general condition linked to impairment of the central nervous system and for which the information gathered on the basis of a clinical examination, response to treatment, a post-mortem examination or an ante or post-mortem laboratory analysis do not allow an alternative diagnosis to be established. Bovine spongiform encephalopathies (BSE) shall be suspected in bovine animals which have produced a positive result from a rapid test specifically for BSE;
(i) holding: any place in which animals covered by this Regulation are held, kept, bred, handled or shown to the public;
(j) sampling: the taking of samples, ensuring a statistically correct representation, from animals or their environment, or from products of animal origin, for the purpose of establishing a disease diagnosis, familial relationships, for health surveillance, or for the monitoring of the absence of microbiological agents or of certain materials in products of animal origin;
(k) fertilisers: any substance containing products of animal origin utilised on land to enhance growth of vegetation; it may include digestion residues from bio-gas production or composting;
(l) rapid tests: the analysis methods referred to in Annex X, Chapter C, point 4, and for which the results are known within 24 hours;
(m) alternative test: the tests referred to in Article 8(2) which are used as an alternative to the withdrawal of specified risk material.
2. The specific definitions set out in Annex I shall also apply.
3. Where the terms in this Regulation are not defined in paragraph 1 or Annex I, the relevant definitions given in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000(7) and those given in or pursuant to Directives 64/432/EEC(8), 89/662/EEC, 90/425/EEC and 91/68/EEC(9) shall apply insofar as reference is made to them in this text.