Our Standards
The American Humane Certified™ Animal Welfare Standards are species-specific and grounded on solid scientific research. The standards were created with input from renowned animal science experts and veterinarians and are frequently reviewed by our Scientific Advisory Committee to reflect current research, technological advances and humane handling methods. Our Animal Welfare Standards are based upon the guiding principles of the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare. With more than 200 rigorous, science-based standards covering everything from adequate space to air and water quality, heating, lighting, shade, and the animals’ ability to engage in natural behaviors. American Humane Certified producers are audited for their compliance to the standards. Our audit tools, full standards, and supplemental templates are fully transparent and can be downloaded below.
Supplemental Traceability Audit
Standards Documents
Animal Welfare Audit Tools
Broiler Chickens Audit Tool
(Download in Spanish)
Dairy Cattle Audit Tool
(Download in Spanish)
Layers Cage Free Audit Tool
(Download in Spanish)
Layers Free Range & Pasture Audit Tool
Animal Welfare Full Standards + Supplements
Broiler Chickens Full Standards
(Download in Spanish)
Dairy Cattle Full Standards
(Download in Spanish)
Layers Cage Free Full Standards
Layers Free Range & Pasture Full Standards
Supplemental Farm Manual Templates
American Humane Certified™ Farm Manual – Dairy Cattle
Notification of Nonconformance Doc
Don’t see the American Humane Certified™ Seal of Approval?
Send this letter or learn more about what the seal means.