American Humane Society, the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare practices, today announced that their Animal Welfare Standards and Audit Tool for Broiler Chickens within the American Humane Certified™ program have been certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization (PAACO), a leading authority on animal welfare auditing.
The American Humane Certified program utilizes rigorous, science-based, and comprehensive animal welfare criteria, reviewed by an independent Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) comprised of world-renowned leaders in the fields of animal science, veterinary medicine, and animal ethics. The independent, third-party audit program helps to verify that certified farms and processors are implementing management practices that prioritize animal welfare. This marks the first time American Humane Certified Farm Standards have been certified by an independent audit certification organization.
PAACO is a science-based organization of qualified, trained, and certified animal welfare auditors committed to advancing animal welfare. PAACO assembled a panel of broiler chicken experts to conduct a thorough review of the American Humane Certified Broiler Chicken Standards and Audit Tool. After several months of evaluation, PAACO granted certification.
“Earning the PAACO certification is a powerful affirmation of our dedication to elevating humane standards in agriculture,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane Society. “Science and compassion are at the heart of everything we do, and this recognition demonstrates that our program not only demands a high degree of rigor but also delivers real impact for the lives of farm animals, ensuring they are treated with the dignity and respect they so deserve.”’
The American Humane Certified Animal Welfare Standards and Audit Tool for Broiler Chickens were most recently updated in January 2025. These updates were developed through a comprehensive process that incorporated the latest broiler chicken research, expert input, and real-world on-farm testing.
“PAACO is pleased to announce that the American Humane Certified™ Farm Program Broiler Chicken Welfare Standards have completed our rigorous approval process.” Said Collette Kaster, Executive Director of PAACO. “This audit reflects a mutual commitment to the implementation of scientifically validated welfare criteria and third-party auditing mechanisms. Programs like these elevate transparency and accountability across the poultry industry and help advance animal welfare.”
The revised audit tool was tested in multiple on-site, side-by-side comparisons with the previous version. These tests helped determine the functionality of the updated tool, the practical implementation of the new standards, and the effectiveness of results in driving improvements in animal welfare outcomes.
“Independent certification by PAACO validates the strength and credibility of our standards,” said Dr. Tom Edling, Chief Veterinary Officer at American Humane Society. “Our work is grounded in science and designed to continually evolve as research advances. This helps ensure farmers and producers have the best possible tools to safeguard animal welfare while maintaining high levels of care and responsibility.”
American Humane Society will unveil updated standards with the PAACO logo along with any other annual updates that come up for January 2026. For more information on the American Humane Farm Program, please visit: https://www.americanhumane.org/what-we-do/certify-humane-treatment/farms/
About American Humane Society
American Humane Society is the United States’ first national humane organization and the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare, helping to verify the humane treatment of more than one billion animals across the globe each year. Founded in 1877, American Humane Society has been at the forefront of virtually every major advancement in the humane movement to rescue, care for and protect animals. For more information or to support our life-changing work, please visit www.AmericanHumane.org, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram and subscribe to our channel on YouTube for the latest breaking news and features about the animals with whom we share our Earth.