Glossary of the food sector

Polymer

A macromolecular substance obtained by:

a) a polymerization process, such as polyaddition or polycondensation, or any other similar process, of monomers and other starting substances; or

b) the chemical modification of natural or synthetic macromolecules; or

c) microbial fermentation.

—Source: Regulation (EU) 10/2011, Art. 3(3)

Polymerization auxiliary substance

Substance that initiates polymerization and/or controls the formation of the macromolecular structure.

— Source: Reg. (EU) 10/2011, Art. 3(10)

Polymerization process adjuvant

A substance used to serve as a suitable medium for the manufacture of polymers or plastics; it may be present in the finished material or article, but is not intended to be present and has no physical or chemical effect on the final material or article.

— Source: Regulation (EU) 10/2011, Art. 3(8)

Polyols

Alcohols containing more than two hydroxyl groups.

—Source: Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, Annex I, point 9

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

Fatty acids with two or more double bonds interrupted by cis-cis methylene groups.

— Source: Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, Annex I, point 6

Post-harvest treatment

Postharvest handling of plants or plant products in a confined space where there is no possibility of escape, such as in a warehouse.

— Source: Reg. (EU) 1107/2009, Art. 3(28)

Potentially hazardous substance

Any substance that is inherently capable of causing adverse effects on humans, animals or the environment and is present or produced in a plant protection product in concentrations that pose a risk of such effects. These substances also include, but are not limited to, substances that meet the criteria for classification as hazardous in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures ( 1 ), and are present in the plant protection product in concentrations that make the product considered hazardous pursuant to Article 3 of Directive 1999/45/EC.

— Source: Regulation (EU) No 1107/2009, Art. 3(4)

Poultry

Meat of farmed poultry, including birds that are not considered domestic but are raised as pets, with the exception of ratites.

— Source: Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, Annex I

Poultry (US term)

Any domesticated bird (chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guineas, ratites, or squabs, also termed young pigeons from one to about thirty days of age), whether live or dead.

Poultry product.

(i) This term means any poultry carcass or part thereof; or any product which is made wholly or in part from any poultry carcass or part thereof, excepting those exempted from definition as a poultry product in § 381.15. Except where the context requires otherwise (e.g., in paragraph (b)(42) of this section), this term is limited to articles capable of use as human food.

(ii) Poultry food product. This term means any product capable of use as human food which is made in part from any poultry carcass or part thereof, excepting those exempted from definition as a poultry product in § 381.15.

— Source: 9 CFR 381.1

Poultry shelter

A fixed or mobile building for housing flocks of poultry, including all roofed areas, including a veranda; the house may be divided into separate compartments, each housing a single flock.

— Source: Reg. (EU) 2018/848, Art. 3(69)

Pre-packaged food

Any article offered for presentation, consisting of a food and the packaging in which that food was packaged before being offered for sale, containing the food either completely or partially, but in any case in such a way as to prevent the contents from being altered without opening or modifying the packaging.

— Source: Reg. (EC) 1829/2003, Art. 2(15) (refers to definition in Directive 2000/13/EC)

Pre-packaged food

A sales unit intended to be presented as such to the final consumer and to mass caterers, consisting of a food and the packaging in which it was packaged before being offered for sale, whether completely or partially wrapped by such packaging, but in any case in such a way that the contents cannot be altered without opening or changing the packaging; "prepackaged food" does not include foods packaged at the point of sale at the request of the consumer or prepackaged for direct sale.

— Source: Regulation (EU) 1169/2011, Art. 2(2)(e)

Pre-packaged product

Any individual item offered for sale consisting of a product and the packaging in which that product was packaged before being offered for sale, whether containing the product in full or in part, provided that the contents cannot be altered without opening or modifying the packaging.

— Source: Reg. (EC) 1830/2003, Art. 3(12)

Precautionary measures

The measures that must be taken by operators at all stages of production, preparation, and distribution to prevent contamination by products or substances not authorized for use in organic production in accordance with this Regulation and to prevent the mixing of organic and non-organic products.

— Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/848, Art. 3(5)

Preparation

Preservation or processing operations of organic or in-conversion products, or any other operation performed on an unprocessed product without modifying the initial product, such as slaughter, cutting, cleaning, or grinding, as well as packaging, labeling, or changes to the labeling with regard to organic production.

— Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/848, Art. 3(44)