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'Certified
Humane' Label Announced
 Humane
Farm Animal Care (HFAC) has announced that it will soon begin a
"Certified Humane Raised and Handled" labeling program to
identify "meat, poultry, egg or dairy products (that have) come
from animals raised at facilities meeting precise, objective and humane
standards for farm animal treatment."
In order to obtain permission to place
the "Certified Humane" label on products, producers and
processors must:
- provide proper nutrition and access
to fresh water at all times
- take appropriate disease prevention
measures
- offer sufficient space and shelter
- provide the company of other members
of animals’ species
- comply with the American Meat
Institute Standards for slaughter
In addition, animals must not be given
feed containing hormones or antibiotics intended to promote growth.
The American Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), The Humane Society of the United States
and other animal welfare organizations will help HFAC administer the
labeling program.
"The 'Certified Humane' label is
based on strict animal handling standards, rigorous on-site inspections
of farms in the program and United States Department of Agriculture
verification of the process," said ASPCA Senior Vice President of
Government Affairs and Public Policy Lisa Weisberg.
"By purchasing products that carry
the 'Certified Humane' label, consumers will...send a powerful message
to the agricultural industry that humane care and treatment of American
farm animals should be a priority," said HFAC Executive Director
Adele Douglass.
Sources
Humane Farm Animal
Care
www.certifiedhumane.com/press.html
"Certified Humane" Food Label Unveiled
The Humane Society of the United States
www.hsus.org/ace/19059
HSUS Joins Consortium to Launch 'Certified Humane' Label
© 2003 Animal
News Center, Inc.
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