G.A.P.’s Animal Welfare Certified food labeling program also means that animals are raised without the use of antibiotics, added hormones, or animal by-products. The higher the number, the more the animal’s environment mimics its natural environment.
With more than 3800 farms and ranches certified, and with G.A.P.’s requirement that EVERY farm has an on-site audit, the Certifying Companies are busy screening applications, scheduling audits and getting auditors out to farms.
During the audit, the auditors spend time assessing animals, checking records, and talking with the farm manager about their operation and management practices. After they finish the audit, the auditor submits a report to a Reviewer at the Certifying Company who determines if the farm/ranch is eligible for certification and at what GAP certification level. If the farm or ranch doesn’t meet a standard at the time of the on-site audit, they are given an opportunity to correct the issue and an additional review is carried out.
Once the Certifying Company is satisfied that each farm and/or ranch is fully compliant to the G.A.P. standards, they will issue a unique certificate to each farm/ranch for 15 months.
Learn more at the GAP website HERE.
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