Certified Humane

The Certified Humane Raised and Handled Label is a consumer certification and labeling program identifying egg, dairy, meat, and poultry products that are produced in a manner that considers the welfare of the animals from birth to death. The program came into being because of the concern among animal welfare groups and consumers that farm animals were living in inhumane conditions before their slaughter. Certified Humane programs are growing, both in the United States and internationally, as consumers recognize the perceived benefits and show more interest in knowing how their food was raised and processed.

Animals certified as humanely raised must be allowed to engage in natural behaviors such as flapping wings and dust bathing for chickens and rooting for pigs; have sufficient space, shelter, and handling so as to eliminate stress; be provided with access to ample amounts of clean water; and be fed a natural diet free of growth hormones and antibiotics. All caretakers must also be trained in animal husbandry and welfare. Operators typically pay a fee (e.g., $50) for the certification application as well as a fee for operation inspection (e.g., $500-$600/day/inspector).

Requirements for the raising, handling, and processing or slaughter of animals are provided by different certification programs. Standards vary depending on the animal but typically are provided for beef cattle, dairy cows, pigs, sheep, broiler chickens, laying chickens, turkeys, goats, and young dairy beef. Certified Humane does not necessarily mean that the products are organic or free range, as the program is more concerned about the welfare of the animals than the type of farming system.

[Page 67]To obtain humane certification, facilities must meet precise, objective standards set by nonprofit organizations and local, state, and federal governments and be certified annually by an inspector. For example, meat processors must comply with the American Meat Institute Standards, which works to ensure optimal care of animals with minimal suffering. Although the government has some standards for the welfare of farm animals, such as the Animals Welfare Act and Humane Methods of Slaughter Act passed by Congress, these laws do not set certification requirements, nor are they applied to all types of livestock. Many animal welfare groups have accused the U.S. federal government of not doing enough to safeguard farm animals, leading to the creation of nongovernmental humane certification programs.

There are two major Humane Certification Programs in the United States: the Humane Farm Animal Care Certified Humane Raised and Handled Label and the American Humane Association American Humane Certified program. The Humane Farm Animal Care, a national nonprofit organization, worked with a team of animal scientists and veterinarians to develop the standards for Certified Humane Raised and Handled Label in 2003. The standards are based on a review of existing programs in Europe and on scientific review and are updated as new information becomes available. The program has grown significantly since it started: in 2003, 143,000 animals were raised under its standards; by the end of 2006, there were more than 9 million certified animals.

Humane Farm Animal Care is audited annually by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as the International Organization for Standardization. Producers that are Certified Humane are also audited annually. Failure to meet any of the standards will result in revocation of certification.

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