Words used in this subpart in the singular form shall be deemed to import the plural, and vice versa, as the case may demand. For the purposes of such regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms shall be construed, respectively, to mean:

Acceptance service. The service established and conducted under the regulations for the determination and certification or other identification of the compliance of livestock with specifications.

Act. The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (Title II of the act of Congress approved August 14, 1946, 60 Stat. 1087, as amended by Pub. L. 272, 84th Cong., 69 Stat. 553, 7 U.S.C. 1621-1627).

Administrator. The Administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service, or any officer or employee of the Agricultural Marketing Service to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in his stead.

Agricultural Marketing Service. The Agricultural Marketing Service of the Department.

Applicant. Any person who has applied for service under the regulations.

Branch. The Livestock Market News Branch of the Division.

Chief. The Chief of the Branch, or any officer or employee of the Branch to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in his stead.

Class. A subdivision of livestock based on essential physical characteristics that differentiate between major groups of the same kind of species.

Compliance. Conformity of livestock to the specifications under which the livestock was purchased or sold, with particular reference to the weight, quality or other characterics of livestock.

Cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement between the Agricultural Marketing Service and another Federal agency or a State agency, or other agency, organization or person as specified in the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946, as amended, for conducting the service.

Department. The United States Department of Agriculture.

Director. The Director of the Division or any officer or employee of the Division to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in his stead.

Division. Livestock, Poultry, Grain and Seed Division.

Financially interested person. Any person having a financial interest in the livestock involved, including but not limited to the shipper, receiver, producer, seller, buyer, or carrier of the livestock or products.

Grade. (1) As a noun, this term means an important commercial subdivision of livestock based on certain definite and preference determining factors, such as, but not limited to, conformation, finish, and muscling in livestock.

(2) As a verb, this term means to determine the class, grade, or other quality of livestock according to applicable standards for such livestock.

Grading service. The service established and conducted under the regulations for the determination and certification or other identification of the class, grade, or other quality of livestock under standards.

Legal holiday. Those days designated as legal public holidays in title 5, United States Code, section 6103(a).

Livestock. Cattle, sheep, swine, or goats.

Official grader. An employee of the Department or other person authorized by the Department to determine and certify or otherwise identify the class, grade, other quality, or compliance of livestock under the regulations.

Person. Any individual, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity, or Government agency.

Regulations. The regulations in this subpart.

Service. Grading service or acceptance service.

Specifications. Description with respect to the class, grade, other quality, quantity or condition of livestock approved by the Administrator, and available for use by the industry regardless of the origin of the descriptions.

Standards. The standards of the Department contained in Official United States Standards for Grades of: Carcass Beef; Veal and Calf Carcasses; Lamb, Yearling Mutton, and Mutton Carcasses; and, Pork Carcasses.

Supervisor. An official person designated by the Director or Chief to supervise and maintain uniformity and accuracy of service under the regulations.

[42 FR 53902, Oct. 4, 1977, as amended at 63 FR 72101, Dec. 31, 1998]