The following terms, when used in this subpart, shall be construed as defined. Those terms used in the singular form in this subpart shall be construed as the plural form and vice versa, as the case may demand.

Administrator. The Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or any person authorized to act for the Administrator.

Animal. Any cattle, sheep, goats, other ruminants, swine, horses, or asses.

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (APHIS).

Approved artificial insemination center. A facility approved or licensed by the national government of the region in which the facility is located to collect and process semen under the general supervision of such government.

Approved embryo transfer unit. A facility approved or licensed by the national government of the region in which the facility is located for the artificial insemination of donor dams or for conception as a result of artificial breeding by a donor sire and for collecting and processing embryos for export under the general supervision of such government.

Department. The United States Department of Agriculture.

Embryo. The initial stage of an animal's development after collection from the natural mother, while it is capable of being transferred to a recipient dam, but not including an embryo that has been transferred to a recipient dam.

Enter (entered, entry) into the United States. To introduce into the commerce of the United States after release from governmental detention at the port of entry.

Flock. A herd.

Herd. All animals maintained on any single premises; and all animals under common ownership or supervision on two or more premises which are geographically separated, but among which there is an interchange or movement of animals.

Import (imported, importation) into the United States. To bring into the territorial limits of the United States.

Inspector. An employee of APHIS who is authorized to perform the function involved.

Oocyte. The first and second maturation stages of a female reproductive cell prior to fertilization.

Person. Any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, or any other legal entity.

Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of any of the following:

(1) A national entity (country);

(2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.)

(3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or

(4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single area.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). A family of progressive and generally fatal neurodegenerative disorders thought to be caused by abnormal proteins, called prions, typically producing characteristic microscopic changes, including, but not limited to, noninflammatory neuronal loss, giving a spongiform appearance to tissues in the brains and nervous systems of affected animals.

United States. All of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States and all other territories and possessions of the United States.