| |
Program Overview
Who is Behind Certified Humane Raised &
Handled?
Producer Application and Inspection
The Certified Humane Raised & Handled program is an inspection,
certification and labeling program for meat, poultry, egg and
dairy products from animals raised to humane care standards.
The program is a voluntary, user-fee based service available
to producers, processors and transporters of animals raised
for food. The purpose of the program is to provide independent
verification that the care and handling of livestock and poultry
on farms enrolled in the program meet high quality humane animal
care standards.
The Animal Care Standards require
that livestock have access to clean and sufficient food and
water; that their environment is not dangerous to their health;
that they have sufficient protection from weather elements;
that they have sufficient space allowance in order for them
to move naturally; and other features to ensure the safety,
health and comfort of the animal. In addition, the standards
require that managers and caretakers be thoroughly trained,
skilled and competent in animal husbandry and welfare, and have
good working knowledge of their system and the livestock in
their care.
The standards were created by a team of Animal Scientists, and
Veterinarians with expertise in farm animal issues During creation
of the standards, the team reviewed the latest research and
consulted established standards, such as those in use by the
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
in England, and other standards and guidelines recognized for
the proper care of animals. Input was also obtained from producers.
Producers who are certified under the Certified Humane Certificate
Program may use the Certified Humane Raised & Handled logo
on their packaging. Look for the Certified Humane Raised &
Handled logo to ensure that the products you purchase meet the
highest farm animal welfare standards.
If your grocer or local restaurant doesn’t carry products
with the “Certified Humane Raised and Handled”
logo, go to our website at www.Certifiedhumane.com to go to
our action center for a letter
for you can use to ask.
Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) is a non-profit organization
created to offer a certification and labeling program for
meat, eggs, dairy and poultry products from animals raised
according to Humane Farm Animal Care’s Animal
Care Standards. Developed with the welfare of the individual
animal in mind, Certified Humane standards ensure that the
animal is treated humanely and in accordance with the highest
farm animal welfare standards available today, as the animal
is raised, transported and processed.
A consortium of animal welfare organizations, as well as individuals
and foundations, fund Humane Farm Animal Care. Some of these
organizations include the American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the Humane Society of the United
States (HSUS), the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA), the Humane Society of Vero
Beach, the Hawaiian Humane Society, The Los Angeles Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (spcaLA), and others.
The Audit, Review, and Compliance (ARC) Branch conducts voluntary conformity assessments and accreditation audits for certification agencies to determine compliance to the International Organization for Standardization Guide 65:1996 General requirements for bodies operating product certification systems.
The USDA ISO Guide 65 Program specifies the general requirements that a third-party operating a product or service certification system shall meet if it is to be recognized as competent and reliable. Adherence to the USDA ISO Guide 65 Program ensures that the certification agency operates a third-party certification system in a consistent and reliable manner.
back to top
»
A recent study on behalf of the United Egg Producers
found that three out of four American consumers (75%) will
choose food products certified as protecting animal care over
those that are not. The study also revealed that they would
be willing to make that choice in favor of animal care even
if the products might cost more.
Producers contact HFAC by phone, mail, or by visiting the
HFAC website to obtain an application which is then completed
and submitted for review. When HFAC judges the application
to be complete and in good standing, a trained inspector contacts
the producer, discusses the farm questionnaire and advises
him/her as to what records must be made available to HFAC.
The inspector then advises the USDA as to where and when the
on-site inspection will take place. The USDA then determines
if it will attend the inspection or not. The inspector performs
an on-site inspection including interviews with staff, review
of records, and observation and evaluation of operating procedures.
Producers that pass the certification process are certified
for a one-year period and subsequently allowed to carry the
Certified Humane Raised and Handled label on its products.
If the applicant does not meet the standards, certification
will be denied. Once the deviation is corrected, the applicant
must begin the certification process anew. Certification may
also be denied for failure to provide HFAC access to the supplier’s
facility and records, presentation of false or misleading
information, or other evidence of noncompliance
Certification can be revoked for a variety of reasons, including
failure to follow the approved policies and procedures, implementing
significant changes to approved systems without prior written
notification to HFAC, or deliberate misrepresentation.
If you are a
and wish to download the application for membership in the
Certified Humane Raised & Handled Program
click here
|
