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Free Farmed
Certification Program
Questions & Answers
Q. What is the American Humane Association?
A. AHA is the oldest national organization dedicated to child
and animal protection. Founded in 1877, AHA provides national
leadership in the development of programs, policies, and services on
behalf of animals and children who are abused and neglected.
Q. What is the Free Farmed Certificate Program?
A. The Free Farmed Certificate Program (FFCP) is a voluntary,
user-fee based service available to producers, processors and haulers 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 enrolled farms meets the Animal Welfare Standards set forth
by the American Humane Association. FFCP is administered by Farm Animal
Services.
Q. What is Farm Animal Services?
A. AHA founded Farm Animal Services (FAS) as a stand-alone
nonprofit organization to oversee compliance with the AHA Animal Welfare
Standards. Farms that wish to be certified as "Free Farmed"
must be inspected by the FAS and found to be in compliance with the
standards. FAS will also oversee any disciplinary action related to the
certification process, such as certificate revocation or suspension, and
will administer, certify and monitor the Free Farmed Certification
Program.
Q. Does the USDA have a role in the Free Farmed
Certification Program?
A. The US Department of Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS)
Livestock and Seed (LS) Program conducts on-site assessments of 25
percent of the participants of the program. The USDA involvement is to
verify FAS’s inspection process.
Q. How were AHA Animal Welfare Standards set?
A. The standards were created by a team of US scientists and animal
experts with expertise in animal care. During the standard setting
process, 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, the 1999 Federation of Animal Science Societies
Guide, and other practical standards and guidelines recognized for the
proper care of animals. Input was also obtained from producers. AHA will
continue to review and revise the standards as new information and
technology becomes available.
Q. How do producers receive Free Farmed Certification?
A. Producers contact Farm Animal Services to obtain an application,
which they complete and submit for review. If FAS judges that their
application is complete and in good standing, the FAS sends a trained
auditor to the facility to perform an on-site inspection, where the
auditor will interview staff, review records, and observe the operations
in process. If the applicant passes the on-site inspection, the FAS
contacts the USDA for an on-site inspection. Producers that pass the
certification process are certified for a one-year period.
Q. What happens if the producer fails to meet the
standards?
A. If the applicant for certification does not meet the standards,
but the deviation does not compromise the integrity of the animals, the
applicant may receive certification with a stipulation that the
nonconformance be corrected in a timely manner. If the applicant does
not meet the standards, and the deviation compromises the integrity of
the animal, 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 access to the
supplier’s facility and records, presentation of false or misleading
information, or other evidence of noncompliance.
Q. Can certification be revoked?
A. 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 FAS, or deliberate misrepresentation.
Q. What do the standards require?
A. AHA 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, and other features
to ensure the safety, health and comfort of the animal. In addition, the
standards require that managers and stock keepers 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.
Q. What is the difference between other food products
and Free Farmed products?
A. The difference is that Free Farmed production standards are
developed with the well being of the animal in mind. Free Farmed
standards ensure that the animal is treated humanely, including the
administration of health care and medications when needed.
Q. Are foods with the Free Farmed label safer than
similar foods?
A. The Free Farmed label certifies that the animal was treated in a
humane way and is no more or less safe than natural or organic foods.
Q. Is there really a demand for more humanely produced
foods?
A. Yes, and the demand is high. A 1999 survey by the Animal Industry
Foundation found that consumers do want these products, and 44 percent
of them would pay five percent more for meat and poultry products
labeled as "humanely raised."
 Q.
How will I know which products in the supermarket are Free Farmed?
A. Producers who are certified under the Free Farmed
Certificate Program may use the Free Farmed mark on their packaging.
Look for the Free Farmed logo to ensure that the products you purchase
were manufactured using AHA animal welfare standards.
Q. How can I ask my grocer to carry Free Farmed foods?
A. Tell your grocer that you want Free Farmed products. A list of
certified producers and retailers that carry Free Farmed products is
available at producers.
More information about AHA's animal and child welfare
efforts can be found at.
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