Certified Humane programme expands into Argentina and Australia

International non-profit certification organisation Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) has announced that the Certified Humane programme has recently expanded into Argentina and Australia, two of the world’s top food producing nations.

Ovobrand Eggs in Argentina, and Cape Grim Beef in Australia are among the latest manufacturers to join the Certified Humane programme.

Certified Humane instructs farmers to adhere to HFAC’s Animal Care Standards (ACS) and submit to third-party inspections to confirm compliance.

Under the ACS, farm animals need to be fed nutritious diets without antibiotics, hormones, and animal by-products, and provide them with proper shelter, resting areas, and sufficient space to support natural behaviours.

HFAC executive director Adele Douglass said: “Just like every other animal, cows, farm animals deserve to have their emotional, mental and physical needs met and be kept in a way that allows them to express natural behaviours throughout their lives.”

Currently, Certified Humane products are available in 32,000 stores in eight countries, the US, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, and Peru.

HFAC was launched in May 2003 and currently more than 172 companies representing 6,000 farms and 835 million farm animals have joined Certified Humane.

This programme is endorsed by 67 humane organisations. The Certified Humane Raised and Handled programme is considered as the ‘Gold Standard’ for certifying farm animal welfare from birth to slaughter.