American Humane Certification is a voluntary, fee-based service available to producers of animals raised for food. The goal of the program is to provide independent third-party verification that these businesses are providing humane conditions for the animals in their care. American Humane, the oldest organization in the United States dedicated to the welfare of both children and animals, administers the program. The American Humane Certified program conducts the audits and issues the certification to producers meeting standards developed by American Humane specifically for this program.

1. Annual independent on-site audits of more than 200 science-based standards and measures conducted by Professional Animal Audit Certification Organization trained and certified auditors.
2. Online Compliance Resources to provide regular mandatory audit updates, and monitoring, throughout the year. And coming soon to the online resources is a comprehensive training program for you and your employees.
   
3. State-of-the-art, web-based independent video monitoring that provides 24/7, real-time monitoring and instant alerts of potential problems to the producer and American Humane.

Click here to find out more about our 3-tier audit process.

Audit Process

Producers, farms and ranches interested in American Humane Certification should contact American Humane Certified to request a copy of the species-specific animal welfare standards and a certification application document, or click on the "New Producer Application" tab in the upper right-hand corner. Upon completion of the application documents, the applicants forward them to American Humane Certified, who reviews the application and submits a contract for a certification audit. American Humane Certified arranges for an auditor to conduct the audit through onsite inspection. The auditor conducts over 100 observations through interviews with management and employees; observes the operation in process; and reviews written standard operating procedures and supporting documentation.

Auditors score the standards. The producers that meet all the expected levels of compliance receive immediate certification. However, if any areas are found to be out of compliance a non-compliance report is issued, signed and witnessed by the auditor and the producer at the exit interview. Within seven days of the audit, the prospective producer must send in a signed corrective action plan. At the end of a  90-day period, the prospective producer must provide a corrective action report showing the corrective actions have taken place. At that time, all documentation is reviewed to determine that the successful corrective action has taken place. A new audit may be conducted, but when all corrective action has taken place the producer receives the certification. By reviewing these corrective areas the producer reaches the continuous improvement thresholds that make them an American Humane Certified producer.

Certification

An American Humane Certified producer who meets all requirements as referenced in the American Humane Certified standards is issued a “certificate of approval” valid for one year from the date of the approval letter. When the applicant is approved, the notification includes a license agreement, which must be signed and returned to American Humane Certified before the participant is allowed to use the American Humane Certified label.

Maintaining And Renewing Certification

Participants are required to maintain throughout the approved certification period all records as described in their Standard Operating Procedures documentation. Changes to the approved operating systems that may potentially affect the integrity of the farm animals must be submitted, in writing, to American Humane Certified and approved prior to implementation. American Humane Certified contacts each participant before the expiration of his or her certification approval period. American Humane Certified reserves the right to conduct unannounced audits and suspend the certification of any producer who has failed to follow the approved policies and procedures and has implemented significant changes to approved systems, without notification to American Humane Certified, or deliberately misrepresents any part of the business. If a producer’s certification is suspended, the entire process must be reinitiated to be certified in the future. Upon notification of suspension by American Humane Certified, producers cannot in any way represent themselves as American Humane Certified and must not label or sell any products that make that representation.

Auditors’ Requirements

Auditors assigned to conduct document reviews and onsite audits must be deemed qualified by American Humane Certified and have training and education in animal science or veterinary medicine, or have other relevant backgrounds, training, and experience, as deemed appropriate by American Humane certified.

For more information, contact us.

Click Here To Apply To Become A Certified Producer