LPS Policy: SP-2

APPROVED: August 25, 2016

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE 

LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, & SEED PROGRAM

USDA BEEF CARCASS CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS 

LIVESTOCK, POULTRY, & SEED PROGRAM POLICY

SCOPE:

The Livestock, Poultry, and Seed (LPS) Program, through the Quality Assessment Division 

(QAD), provides certification of beef carcasses for a number of marketing programs making 

claims concerning breed of cattle and carcass characteristics, or only for carcass characteristics. 

These characteristics go beyond the requirements for official USDA grades. QAD certification is 

often the basis for approval of meat product labels making a variety of marketing claims. The 

carcass certification programs vary widely in the level of claims for “quality”. In order to provide 

program originators and purchasers of certified products with the best service, this document 

outlines LPS Program policy on the requirements for these carcass certification programs.

POLICY:

1) Specific requirements for quality attributes for each certified program will be determined 

by the originator of the program and will be included in the publicly available specification 

for the program approved by the LPS Program.

2) Certification will only be provided for carcasses that have been identified with an official 

USDA quality grade for those programs that specify quality related attributes. All carcass 

certification programs will list all classes and grades that qualify for the program.

3) Carcass certification programs with a range of quality extending to more than two quality 

grades must identify the actual grade of the product in each package on the product label, or 

specify the lowest possible grade followed by “or higher.” Carcass certification programs with 

multiple brand name variations in the same specification (with a common basic brand name) 

cannot have marbling score overlap.

4) Terms indicating a non-specific or unofficial level of quality (e.g.; Premium) must be 

preceded by the company’s name in the carcass certification program name and on all 

labels.

5) Claims for breed of cattle (e.g.; Angus) based on phenotypic characteristics or genetics 

must meet the specific requirements promulgated by the National Pedigreed Livestock 

Council (NPLC).

6) Beef carcasses that receive a preliminary identification mark based on a LPS Program 

approved specification at the time of slaughter can only be used for officially certified 

programs. Once a certification determination is made, the preliminary identification

 marks must be removed from non-qualifying carcasses. Procedures for identification,
LPS Policy: SP-2

 APPROVED: August 25, 2016

certification, and control of certified carcasses shall be in accordance with established

QAD Instructions.

7) The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Labeling and Consumer Protection 

Staff in Washington, DC must approve labels for products making a breed claim and/or 

referencing USDA Certification. Approved specifications should be submitted with the 

label application.

8) All point of sale and marketing materials (i.e.; other than product labels) for carcass 

certification programs shall list the claims that are certified. Information and claims made 

on product labels shall be consistent with other point of sale and marketing materials and 

FSIS requirements.

9) “USDA Certified” shall not precede a breed name, and can only be used in reference 

to a certified “program.”

10) Carcass certification program originators are responsible for subsequent use, or 

misuse, of labels and marketing materials by handlers and marketers of their products. 

The finding of materials not in compliance may result in cancellation of the carcass 

certification program and FSIS rescindment of any label approvals based on the 

previously approved program. Any changes to established carcass certification programs

must be approved by the LPS Program and FSIS and customers for those products must 

be notified of the changes.

11) New or revised carcass certification programs shall be considered and approved 

in accordance with procedures established Standardization Branch Procedure SP-1.

12) Information on LPS Program policies and procedures, and all approved 

carcass certification programs may be obtained from the official website at: 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/certified-beef-programs

APPROVED:

___________________________

David Bowden

Chief, Standardization Branch