Craig A. Morris Deputy Administrator Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service

 Voluntary  User fee-funded  Market-focused  Allow companies to make claims towards marketing their products—e.g., age, source verification  Not intended to replace any regulations

Agricultural Marketing Service  Program types:  Process Verified Program  Quality System Assessment Program  Export Verification Program  Non-Hormone Treated Cattle Program  Pork for the EU Program

Agricultural Marketing Service  Prescriptive  Non-Hormone Treated Cattle  Pork for the European Union  Performance standard  Process Verified  Quality Systems Assessment

Agricultural Marketing Service  Authorized by Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946  Audit, verify, and approve company’s production practices  Independent, third party

Agricultural Marketing Service  Companies must implement Quality Management System—documents company’s production practices for meeting marketing claims/specified product requirements

Agricultural Marketing Service  An evaluation of the entire production process, management, employee training, etc.  Process tested according to performance standard for traceback/animal ID  Birth to finished product—verify information transfer and traceability  Based on ISO 9001:2000 standard

Agricultural Marketing Service  Animal traceback and identification verification  System checkpoints  Transfer of information  Critical control points  Other marketing claims based on industry demands  Grass-fed livestock  Naturally raised livestock  Never Ever 3

Agricultural Marketing Service  Focus on specific, concentrated technical requirements  e.g., Export Verification Program for Japan  Audited more than once per year

Agricultural Marketing Service  Developed in 2003 to ensure U.S. beef could continue exportation when U.S. began to import live Canadian cattle for direct slaughter  Importing country specifies product requirements  Involves mostly packers, fabricators, and processors  Over 100 programs for beef; 18 for ovine

Agricultural Marketing Service

For more information, contact the Livestock and Seed Program at