The 
FreeFarmed 
certification
process 

A certification mark of Farm Animal Services

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The Free Farmed Certification Process

The Free-Farmed Certificate Program (FFCP) is a voluntary, fee-based service available to producers, processors and haulers of animals raised for food. The goal of the program is to provide independent verification that these businesses are providing humane conditions for the animals in their care. The program is administered by Farm Animal Services (FAS), an affiliate of the American Humane Association (AHA), the oldest organization in the United States dedicated to the welfare of children and animals. FAS conducts the audits and issues the certification of producers and processors based on standards developed by AHA specifically for this program. An additional verification of the FAS compliance procedure is provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS) Livestock and Seed (LS) Program.

Assessment Process
Businesses wishing Free Farmed Certification must contact FAS for a copy of the relevant AHA Welfare Standards, a program description, templates to produce a "farm manual," "veterinary health record," and other documents for certification. Upon completion of the documents, the participants forward them to FAS, which reviews the application, contacts the producers for follow-up information, and arranges for an assessor to visit the producer and the premise.

During the on-site inspection, the assessor conducts interviews with management personnel and employees, observes the operation in process, and reviews written procedures and supporting documentation. After the on-site inspection, the FAS auditor will contact the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service, which may elect to send an auditor to the business applying for certification.

Audit Reports
Assessors will itemize any significant findings of nonconformance with the AHA Welfare Standards, and assign a tracking number to each. The items will be classified either as a "continuous improvement point," which does not prevent certification but must be corrected in a timely manner; or a "hold point," which must be corrected before the approval process can move forward. Because hold points indicate findings that compromise the integrity of the animals, certification may be denied or revoked until correction.

Certification
Applicants that meet all requirements as referenced in the AHA standards and instructions will be issued a certificate of approval valid for one year from the date of the approval letter. The FAS assessor may deny approval for failure to adequately address any documentation requirements; failure to demonstrate the capability to meet the program requirements; failure to provide access to supplier’s facilities and records; presenting false or misleading information; or for any evidence of noncompliance.

The FAS will notify the participant in writing of the application outcome. If the applicant is approved, the notification includes a license agreement, which must be signed and returned to FAS before the participant is allowed to use the Free Farmed mark.

Documentation
As part of the certification program, producers must maintain a Program Manual that will be kept on site and regularly updated. The manual will include information on animal housing, nutrition, husbandry practices, health plans, emergency procedures, casual slaughter policy, and other information that will help the Free Farmed assessors judge whether the producer continues to be compliant with AHA Animal Welfare Standards.

Maintaining and Renewing Certification
Participants are required to maintain approved programs as described in their system documentation. Any changes to the approved system that may potentially affect the integrity of the farm animals must be submitted in writing to FAS and approved prior to implementation.

The FAS office will contact each participant before the expiration of their approval. Each participant must submit any revised copies of program documentation and be reassessed to maintain approved status. FAS may suspend the approval from any supplier who fails to follow the approved policies and procedures, implements significant changes to approved systems without notification to FAS, or for any deliberate misrepresentation. If a supplier’s approval is suspended, the entire process must be re-initiated to be certified in the future.

Assessor Requirements
Assessors assigned to conduct document reviews and onsite audits must be qualified by Farm Animal Services and have training and education in animal science, veterinary medicine, or other relevant backgrounds, training and experience as deemed appropriate by Farm Animal Services.

The Free Farmed Certification Program is administered, monitored and certified by Farm Animal Services, a non-profit organization created by the American Humane Association (AHA) to provide independent verification that animal products bearing the Free Farmed label were produced according to AHA’s welfare standards for animals. AHA is the oldest, most prestigious national humane organization in the United States. Founded in 1877, AHA is the only national charity dedicated to protecting both children and animals.