How the Certification Process Works
One Health Certified™ is a public certification program open to all producers.
Phase One: Read Standards, Develop Manual, and Contact the USDA
One Health Certified is a systems-based, industry-developed animal care program that is verified by the USDA. To begin the process of becoming a One Health Certified farmer or producer, read the specific standards requirements for the animal protein you wish to become certified in. Then, create a Quality Manual for your company that follows the protein-specific standards. Once this is completed, follow these guidelines to schedule your Desk Audit and On-Site Visit with the USDA (the third-party auditor) by emailing QAD.BusinessOps@ams.
A detailed Quality Manual shows how a company meets One Health Certified requirements. Companies that align their procedures to meet protein-specific standards and achieve certification can then label their retail and wholesale products with a simple One Health Certified logo. The logo conveys that responsible animal care practices have been followed and are verified by the USDA.
Phase Two: Participate in the USDA Desk Audit and On-Site Visit
Desk Audit: Once all required documentation is submitted to them, USDA auditors conduct a Desk Audit to ensure that all program requirements are accounted for in your company’s Quality Manual. After the Desk Audit is successfully completed, the USDA will then schedule an On-Site Visit to verify One Health Certified program compliance.
On-Site Visit: This visit can last anywhere from a day to a week, depending on the number and scope of process points, as well as the size and complexity of your company’s operation. USDA auditors conduct an On-Site Visit of all phases of the operation that impact process verified points.
One Health Certified verification will either be approved or denied once the complete application (including the audit and visit) is submitted to the Program Review Committee. This committee reviews all process points and will determine approval of your company’s application.
Complete Process to Use Branded Logos
After successfully completing and passing audits, check your email inbox for a message from our administration (programcoordinator@onehealthcertified.org). This message will request information needed to generate an invoice for permission to use One Health Certified™ branded logos on products. Once the invoice is paid, you may use branded program logos in the design of your packaging or other materials using the brand guidelines outlined below.