|
- article in
Agricultural Research
The Certified Humane Raised & Handled Label is a consumer
certification and labeling program.When you see the Certified
Humane Raised & Handled label it means that an egg, dairy,
meat or poultry product has been produced with the welfare
of the farm animal in mind. Food products that carry the label
are certified to have come from facilities that meet precise,
objective standards for farm animal treatment.
A team of veterinarians and animal scientists developed the
Animal Care Standards
to ensure that producers and processors keep animals in conditions
that have met high standards of animal care:
| Allow animals to engage
in their natural behaviors |
| Raising animals with sufficient
space, shelter and gentle handling to limit stress |
| Making sure they have ample fresh water
and a healthy diet without
added antibiotics or hormones |
View HFAC's Animal Care Standards Fact Sheets for consumers. The Fact Sheets provide information about specific humane issues as they relate to farm animals covered by the Certified Humane program.
Under the system, growth hormones are prohibited,
and animals are raised on a regular diet of quality feed free
of antibiotics. Producers also must comply with local, state
and federal environmental standards. Processors must comply
with the American Meat Institute Standards, a higher standard
for slaughtering farm animals than the Federal Humane Slaughter
Act.
Humane Farm Animal Care is the independent non-profit organization
that conducts regular inspections and administers the “Certified
Humane Raised & Handled” program. Participating
businesses must pass an initial inspection as well as annual
re-inspection to remain part of the Certified Humane Raised
& Handled program.
Inspectors have training and education in Animal Science,
Veterinary Medicine, or other relevant backgrounds. To further
assure fairness, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s
Agricultural Marketing Services verifies the inspection process.
The quality of the meat, poultry, egg and dairy products depends,
at least in part, on the quality of care farm animals receive.
The Certified Humane Raised & Handled program lets consumers
choose products from businesses that are providing humane
conditions for the animals in their care. |
