Animal Welfare Certifiers in the U.S. Meat Supply

A November 20, 2025 FAT Research Paper prepared by Dirk Adams with the assistance of AI.

Standards, Rating Systems, and Why Certifications Are Not Equivalent

I. Why Welfare Certifications Require Careful Interpretation

Animal welfare certifications vary widely in purpose, rigor, and effect on animal treatment. A central source of consumer confusion is that many certification programs use rating systems or step numbers that appear ordinal, but do not correspond intuitively to welfare outcomes. In particular, several widely used programs designate “Step 1” or “Level 1” as the entry point, even though higher numbered steps represent progressively stronger welfare requirements. Consumers frequently misinterpret lower numbers as higher ratings. Farm Animal Transparency (FAT) therefore evaluates welfare certifications based on what standards actually require, not on how they are numbered or branded.

II. Tier A — Outcome-Improving Welfare Certification

Tier A certifications are designed to improve animal welfare outcomes rather than simply document existing industry practices. These programs establish standards that exceed prevailing norms and require material changes to animal management.

A Greener World

A Greener World is a nonprofit organization that administers multiple animal welfare and sustainability certification programs. Its approach treats certification as a mechanism for raising welfare standards over time, rather than validating current practices.

Approach:
• Species-specific standards for cattle, poultry, and pigs
• Requirements for outdoor access or pasture where biologically appropriate
• Stocking density limits below conventional industry norms
• Enrichment, handling, and transport requirements
• Regular audits with corrective-action processes
• Periodic revision of standards as science and husbandry practices evolve

Rating structure:
A Greener World certifications are standards-based rather than ordinal. There is no numerical hierarchy in which a lower number implies higher welfare.

Scientific assessment:
From a meat-science perspective, A Greener World standards typically require material changes to housing, movement, and management practices. The welfare impact is especially pronounced in poultry and pork systems, where baseline conditions are otherwise highly constrained.

FAT classification: Tier A — Outcome-Improving Certification.

III. Tier B — Standards-Based Welfare Certification

Tier B certifications define welfare standards and verify compliance through audits, but often align closely with prevailing industry practices rather than requiring substantial transformation.

Global Animal Partnership

Global Animal Partnership is a nonprofit animal welfare program that uses a multi-step rating system to indicate differing levels of welfare standards.

Approach:
• Defined standards audited by independent certifiers
• Uses a numbered scale (Step 1 through Step 5+)
• Higher step numbers require progressively stronger welfare practices

Critical clarification:
Step 1 represents the minimum entry level, not the highest standard. Step 5+ represents the most stringent requirements.

Scientific assessment:
Lower Global Animal Partnership steps often document baseline practices, while higher steps require more substantial changes. Informational value depends on whether the specific step level is disclosed and understood.

FAT classification: Tier B — Standards-Based Certification (variable by disclosed step).

Certified Humane

Certified Humane is a nonprofit certification program that establishes welfare standards above legal minimums and verifies compliance through audits.

Approach:
• Defined standards covering housing, handling, and care
• Audit-based verification
• Designed for compatibility with large-scale production systems

Rating structure:
Certification is binary (certified or not), with no public tiered scale.

Scientific assessment:
Certified Humane improves consistency and documentation but may not require substantial deviation from dominant production models, particularly in poultry and pork.

FAT classification: Tier B — Standards-Based Certification.

American Humane Certified

American Humane Certified is an animal welfare certification program administered by the American Humane Association.

Approach:
• Audit-based certification
• Standards designed for broad industry participation
• Emphasis on compliance and documentation

Rating structure:
Certification is binary (certified or not).

Scientific assessment:
The program provides oversight and documentation but generally aligns with existing industrial production systems rather than requiring transformative changes.

FAT classification: Tier B — Standards-Based Certification.

IV. Tier C — Documentation-Based or Self-Defined Welfare Claims

Tier C claims rely primarily on producer-defined standards supported by internal documentation or affidavits, without routine independent welfare audits.

Common examples include:
• “Humanely raised”
• “Animal welfare focused”
• “Low-stress handling”

Scientific assessment:
These claims may reflect genuine management intent but lack comparability and enforceability across producers.

FAT classification: Tier C — Documentation-Based Claims.

V. Species Context and Rating Interpretation

Animal welfare outcomes differ substantially by species. Cattle generally experience greater mobility and environmental variability, while poultry and pigs are more constrained by housing design and stocking density. As a result, identical certifications can represent very different realities depending on species and production system.

Conclusion

Animal welfare certifications are not interchangeable. Differences in intent, rigor, and rating structure materially affect what a claim conveys. Transparency requires naming certifiers, explaining how their standards function, and clarifying when ratings reflect baseline compliance versus meaningful welfare improvement.