One Health CertifiedTM

Chicken Standards

June 2020 Version 1C
One Health CertifiedTM - Chicken Standards Version 1C - June2020

ONE HEALTH CERTIFIEDTM (OHC) CHICKEN 

PRODUCTION STANDARD 

OVERVIEW

One Health CertifiedTM (OHC) is a multi-protein umbrella food animal production 

certification program based on the principles of One Health. One Health is the concept 

that the health of animals, people and the planet are inseparably linked together. 

The goal of OHC is to produce food animals under a transparent program of best 

responsible care practices that producers must follow to promote optimal health 

outcomes for animals, people and the environment. 

OHC is a continuous improvement program with scheduled periodic reviews after an 

initial program is established for each commodity group. Compliance with the program 

is assured via annual audits conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture 

Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA-AMS) Process Verified Program. 

The program is managed by the National Institute of Antimicrobial Resistance Research 

and Education (NIAMRRE) based at Iowa State University. NIAMRRE provides local, 

national, and international leadership in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. 

NIAMRRE is a cross-sector member organization that utilizes a One Health approach to 

connect people, resources, and ideas to address prioritized gaps in knowledge related 

to antimicrobial use, stewardship, and resistance.

Updated information about the OHC program may be found at:

https://www.onehealthcertified.org

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One Health CertifiedTM - Chicken Standards Version 1C - June 2020

1 BIOSECURITY PROGRAM...................................................................................3

2 ANIMAL HEALTH PLAN......................................................................................6

3 ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP................................................................................9

4 THIRD PARTY AUDITED ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAM....................................15

5 ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS................................................................15

6 AUDITING REQUIREMENTS...............................................................................16

7 DOCUMENT RETENTION...................................................................................16

8 OHC LOGO USE RESTRICTIONS........................................................................17

9 ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND ASSOCIATED FEES.....................18

10 APPENDIX.......................................................................................................19

Contents

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1.1 Biosecurity 

Coordinator

The Biosecurity Coordinator is responsible for the development, 

implementation, maintenance and ongoing effectiveness of the 

biosecurity program. Depending on the type and size of operation, the 

Biosecurity Coordinator’s responsibility could be at the farm, production 

site, production complex, or company level. The Biosecurity Coordinator 

must be knowledgeable in the principles of biosecurity. The Biosecurity 

Coordinator and the personnel and caretakers on the farms and production 

sites are jointly responsible for the implementation of the biosecurity 

program. The Biosecurity Coordinator must review the biosecurity program 

at least once during each calendar year and make revisions as necessary.

1.2 Training The biosecurity program must include training materials that cover both 

farm site-specific procedures as well as premises-wide and/or companywide procedures as appropriate. All owners and caretakers that regularly 

enter the perimeter buffer area (PBA) must complete this training. The 

training must be done at least once per calendar year and documented. 

New caretakers must be trained at hire. Training records must be retained 

for 3 years.

1.3 Line of 

Separation (LOS)

The Line of Separation (LOS) is a functional line separating the animals 

inside their living space from exposure to potential disease sources 

outside of it. Generally, it is defined by the walls of the structure where 

the animals are housed with practical deviations to account for entry 

points, structural aspects, or outside access areas. The site-specific 

biosecurity plan must describe or illustrate the boundaries of the LOS and 

clearly outline the procedures to be followed when caretakers, visitors, or 

suppliers cross it. For animals enclosed in outdoor pens, similar principles 

or the LOS can be applied for defining and controlling the LOS for each 

pen. In this circumstance, the walls of the outdoor pens would provide a 

template for defining the LOS to be used when entering or exiting the pens. 

For animals with non-enclosed outdoor access, the LOS is recommended 

to be demarcated by visible markers.

1. Biosecurity Program

A biosecurity program to control the introduction of disease organisms onto farms where animals 

are raised must be in operation on each site and address fourteen critical components. This 

program must be consistent with the NPIP Biosecurity Principles Program to ensure eligibility for 

federal indemnity for emergency program diseases for participants. Corporate level management 

shall state their support and commitment to the biosecurity program in a written declaration 

distributed to all appropriate managers.

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1.4 Perimeter 

Buffer Area (PBA)

The perimeter buffer area is a functional zone surrounding the animal 

raising area that separates them from areas unrelated to animal 

production on that site and/or adjoining properties. It is comprised of 

the animal raising areas as well as nearby structures and high traffic 

areas involved in the daily function of the animal caretaking. This would 

usually include but not be limited to such things as feed bins, manure 

sheds, composting areas, generators, pump rooms, etc. The site-specific 

biosecurity plan must describe or illustrate the boundaries of the PBA and 

clearly outline the procedures that caretakers, visitors, or suppliers must 

follow when entering and leaving the PBA. 

1.5 Personnel The biosecurity program and/or the site-specific biosecurity plan must 

include provisions specifically addressing procedures and biosecurity 

personal protective equipment (PPE) for site-dedicated personnel. The 

plan must likewise address the procedures and biosecurity PPE for nonfarm personnel including visitors. The plan must also specify procedures 

which all personnel having had recent contact with other animals must 

follow before re-entering the PBA. 

1.6 Wild Animals, 

Birds, Rodents and 

Insects

Animal operations must have control measures to prevent contact with 

and protect animals from pests as appropriate to the production system. 

Control programs for rodents, insects, and other animals must be in place 

and documented. 

1.7 Equipment and 

Vehicles

The biosecurity plan must include provisions for cleaning, disinfection, or 

restriction of sharing of equipment where applicable. Vehicle access and 

traffic patterns must be defined in the site-specific biosecurity plan. 

1.8 Mortality 

Disposal

Mortality must be collected daily, stored and disposed of in a manner that 

does not attract wild animals, birds, rodents and insects and minimizes 

the potential for cross-contamination from other facilities or between 

premises. Mortality disposal must be described in the site-specific 

biosecurity plan.

1.9 Manure and 

Litter Management

Manure or spent litter must be removed, stored and disposed of in a 

manner to prevent exposure of susceptible animals to disease agents. 

Onsite litter and manure storage must limit attraction of wild birds, 

rodents, insects, and other animals.

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1.10 New Animal 

Introductions

New animals placed on a farm must be transported in equipment and 

vehicles that are regularly cleaned, disinfected and inspected. Biosecurity 

protocols must be in place for equipment and personnel involved in the 

transport of replacement animals. Single-age production sites (all in, all out 

production) is preferred. If multi-age sites are necessary, procedures must 

be in place to segregate new arrivals or otherwise control introduction of 

disease agents to resident animals by new introductions.

1.11 Water 

Supplies

It is recommended that drinking water or water used for evaporative 

cooling be sourced from a contained supply such as a well or municipal 

system. If drinking water comes from a surface water source, water 

treatment must be used to control disease agents. Surface water 

treatment methods and provisions for monitoring their effectiveness must 

be specified in the site-specific biosecurity plan. 

1.12 Feed and 

Replacement 

Bedding

Feed, feed ingredients, bedding, and litter must be delivered, stored and 

maintained in a manner that limits exposure to and contamination by wild 

animals, birds, rodents and insects. Feed spills within the PBA (outside of 

the LOS) must be cleaned up and disposed of in a timely manner. 

1.13 Reporting of 

Elevated Morbidity 

and Mortality

Elevation in morbidity and/or mortality above expected levels, as defined 

by the biosecurity plan, must be reported to appropriate personnel in a 

timely manner as specified in the site-specific biosecurity plan.

1.14 Ongoing 

Observations 

and Corrective 

Actions for NonCompliance

Observations of on farm biosecurity procedures must be made during 

routine farm visits by company personnel and compliance/non-compliance 

recorded. Documentation of non-compliant activity requires follow up 

corrective actions.

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2.1 Access 

to a licensed 

veterinarian 

through a 

documented VetClient-Patient 

relationship (VCPR) 

within twentyfour (24) hours 

of notification is 

required.

Acceptable documentation may include proof of current employment 

status by animal owner, consulting contract with animal owner or report 

from veterinarian providing service.

2.2 Disease 

prevention program

1. Preventative health care measures appropriate for the identified 

group of animals such as vaccination programs and animal 

husbandry procedures.

2. Appropriate sanitation and hygiene measures.

3. Passive disease surveillance, including but not limited to, diagnostic 

testing and submission of diseased animals to a qualified 

veterinarian or laboratory.

4. Active disease surveillance, including but not limited to, diagnostic 

testing, necropsy surveys and/or other health monitoring activities 

completed on a regular schedule. 

5. Annual disease surveillance sample collection and laboratory 

submission training for personnel involved in performing activities 

utilized in disease surveillance.

6. Annual disease recognition training for appropriate personnel to 

identify clinical signs of common endemic and foreign diseases 

affecting chickens.

2. Animal Health Plan (AHP)

Each producer must have and follow a documented AHP, developed in consultation with a 

veterinarian, designed to achieve high outcomes of animal health and well-being. Depending on 

the scope of the producer’s operation, animal health plans may be written to include the entire 

company/system, flow (source farm through harvest) or an individual farm. AHP must be written 

to ensure action thresholds and resulting response/intervention that are relevant for the group of 

animals identified in the health plan. Plans must be reviewed at a minimum, twice per year no more 

than seven (7) months apart (or more frequently as needed) by the veterinarian with the valid clientpatient relationship (VCPR) to determine adjustments, if necessary, to achieve desired outcomes. 

Animal Health Plans must include the following:

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2.3 Animal Care 

Provisions

1. Twice daily observation of all animals and documentation of daily 

mortality is required.

2. Mortality documentation must differentiate between natural death 

and euthanasia.

3. Producer must have written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for 

the following critical areas:

1. Feeding protocols

2. Watering protocols

3. Ventilation protocols

4. Lighting protocols

5. Emergency ventilation backup protocols, including testing 

protocols

6. Euthanasia protocols approved by the American Veterinary 

Medical Association (AVMA)

4. Involved personnel must be trained in established criteria for and 

proper techniques for euthanasia according to company SOP.

5. Mass depopulation protocols must align with State and Federal 

emergency disease control program procedures and approved by the 

American Veterinary Medical Association and/or USDA-Animal and 

Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

2.4 Responding to 

change in animal 

health status

A written protocol for responding to animals when mortality rates exceed 

an action threshold established in the AHP is required.

2.5 Action 

Thresholds

1. Each AHP must include a daily mortality action threshold that 

requires notification of the changing health status of chickens to 

appropriate personnel.

2. Required action thresholds for chickens are based on increased 

daily mortality calculated on a per house basis.

1. Daily mortality is defined as all natural dead birds plus cull 

birds humanely euthanized by the caretaker in one 

calendar day added together

3. During the starting phase (0-7 days of age), at a minimum, when 

daily mortality rates exceed 5/1000/day for two consecutive days an 

investigation to determine the root cause must be initiated.

4. After 7 days of age (8 days to market age) at a minimum, when daily 

mortality rates exceed 3/1000/day for two consecutive days an 

investigation to determine the root cause must be initiated.

5. Each instance of exceeding an action threshold must trigger 

a documented investigation into the root cause of the animal 

condition.

6. If the root cause is determined to be the result of on-farm 

management practices, a documented immediate corrective action 

and completion must take place to address the identified issue.

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2.5 Action 

Thresholds

(Continued)

7. If an infectious disease is suspected as the root cause, a 

veterinarian must be consulted to determine and direct appropriate 

actions necessary to address the situation within 24 hours of 

notification.

8. Veterinary judgement will determine the appropriate intervention 

strategy to be implemented and must be documented in a 

veterinary action plan completed within 24 hours of notification.

9. A decision tree outlining best practices for treatment of common 

chicken diseases including all treatment option categories below 

(where applicable) must be used to guide treatment decisions.

1. Non-antibiotic treatment alternatives

2. Non-medically important antibiotics 

3. Medically important antibiotics

10. If a bacterial disease is suspected and veterinary judgement 

determines that antibiotic treatment is medically necessary and 

the proper course of action, the veterinarian will authorize the use 

for the appropriate antibiotic via a prescription or veterinary feed 

directive.

11. Managers and caretakers must follow the veterinary action plan 

prescribed.

12. If the expected response to treatment has not been achieved within 

a specified time period, then follow up communication with the 

veterinarian is required to determine if any additional actions may 

be required.

13. Response to treatment outcomes continued on Appendix A.

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2.6 Animal Health 

Plan Review

1. The objective of the AHP review is to determine the effectiveness 

of the current protocols utilized to achieve high outcomes of 

animal health and well-being and to revise the plan as needed to 

attain these goals.

2. The AHP review must be completed and documented at a 

minimum twice per year no more than seven (7) months apart.

3. Components of the review must at a minimum include:

1. Diagnostic reports

2. Vaccination schedules

3. Mortality records

4. Key production metrics compared to company history and/

or breed standards 

5. Non-antibiotic treatments ordered by a veterinarian

6. Antibiotic administrations including medically important 

and not medically important antibiotics, prescriptions and 

veterinary feed directives

7. Veterinary action plans for poultry houses treated with 

medically important antibiotics for three consecutive flock 

cycles. 

8. Veterinary action plans created in consultation with reports 

from third party veterinarian reviews for poultry houses 

treated with medically important drugs for four or more 

consecutive flock cycles. 

9. Action thresholds

10. Treatment outcomes

4. Documentation of AHP reviews must be retained at a minimum for 

the two most current years.

3. Antibiotic Stewardship

The producer and veterinarian play a critical role to ensure responsible use of antibiotics. Producers 

must follow an antibiotic stewardship program that includes the following critical measures. For 

the purposes of this program, the most current population basis antimicrobial use definitions for 

treatment, control and prevention as determined by the American Veterinary Medical Association 

(AVMA) will be used:

https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/AVMA-Definitions-of-Antimicrobial-Use-for-TreatmentControl-and-Prevention.aspx

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3.1 Disease 

Treatment

The administration of an antimicrobial to those animals within the group 

with evidence of infectious disease.

3.2 Disease Control

(Synonym: 

Metaphylaxis)

To reduce the incidence of infectious disease in a group of animals that 

already has some individuals with evidence of infectious disease or 

evidence of infection.

3.3 Disease 

Prevention 

(Synonym: 

Prophylaxis)

The administration of an antimicrobial to a group of animals, none of 

which have evidence of disease or infection, when transmission of existing 

undiagnosed infections, or the introduction of pathogens, is anticipated 

based on history, clinical judgement or epidemiological knowledge. In 

addition, prevention includes administration of antibiotics for a surgical or 

medical procedure.

3.4 Growth 

Promotion

Administration of antimicrobial agents to increase the rate of weight 

gain and/or efficiency of feed utilization in animals other than by 

purely nutritional means or to increase efficiency of another production 

parameter.

3.5 Classification 

of Antibiotics

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance for Industry (GFI) 152 

Appendix A, Table A1 or successor document will be used to determine 

antibiotic classifications used in this program. Only medications, feed 

additives, and other animal health products approved by the FDA and only 

vaccines approved by the USDA, unless prescribed by a veterinarian, may 

be administered to animals in the OHC program. Producers shall abide 

by all laws and regulations governing the use of drugs, medications, feed 

additives and other animal health products in animals intended for human 

consumption, including the requirements of AMDUCA. 

1. The Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 

(AMDUCA) allows veterinarians to prescribe extra-label uses of 

certain approved animal drugs and approved human drugs for 

animals under certain conditions. Extra-label use refers to the use 

of an approved drug in a manner that is not in accordance with 

the approved label directions. The key constraints of AMDUCA are 

that any extra-label use must be by or on the order of a veterinarian 

within the context of a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, must 

not result in violative residues in food-producing animals, and the 

use must be in conformance with the implementing regulations 

published at 21 CFR Part 530. A list of drugs specifically prohibited 

from extra-label use appears in the Code of Federal Regulations. 

The prescribing veterinarian is responsible for ensuring that there 

is no ensuing violative residue. No extra-label uses of drugs in 

animal feed are allowed.

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3.6 Restricted 

Use Antibiotics

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Antibiotics listed in FDA GFI 152 Appendix A, Table A1 are considered 

medically important antibiotics for humans and are subject to the following 

use restrictions:

1. Medically important antibiotics may only be used as directed by a 

licensed veterinarian via prescription or veterinary feed directive 

(VFD) in the context of a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient relationship 

(VCPR) as defined by 21 CFR 530.3(i) or prevailing state regulations. 

2. Medically important antibiotics may only be used to treat and 

control disease when deemed medically necessary by a licensed 

veterinarian. 

3. Medically important antibiotics may not be used for disease 

prevention or growth promotion purposes except for use for surgical 

or medical procedures.

4. Limited hatchery administration is allowed when such administration 

becomes necessary for control of an infectious disease condition 

under the following restrictions:

1. Documentation of an active vertically transmitted disease via 

a laboratory confirmed diagnosis from an identified breeder 

flock source is required

2. Egg treatment, in-ovo or day-old administration of antibiotics 

is limited to the eggs and/or chicks from the lab diagnosed 

breeder source flocks identified in 3.6.4.1 only during periods 

of active shedding of disease organisms

3. Breeder source flocks identified in 3.6.4.1 must be managed 

and/or treated to minimize the vertical shed of pathogens to 

progeny, including appropriate antibiotic treatment as 

ordered by a licensed veterinarian

4. A disease surveillance plan to determine the presence or 

absence of active shedding of disease organisms from 

the breeder source flocks identified in 3.6.4.1 must be written 

and followed

5. Antibiotic administration must be discontinued when the 

results of the disease surveillance program indicate that the 

breeder source flocks are no longer actively shedding disease 

organisms

6. If hatchery antibiotics are administered to greater than 

one percent (1%) of the estimated total annual progeny 

placements for the poultry complex served by the hatchery, 

then a documented investigation conducted by a 

veterinarian to determine the root cause of the vertical 

disease conditions affecting supply breeder flocks must be 

completed. Recommended mitigation strategies must be 
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Standards How You Will Be Measured

3.6 Restricted Use 

Antibiotics

(Continued)

3.7 Addressing 

Recurring Use of 

Restricted Use 

Antibiotics

followed and documented

7. Hatchery administered antibiotics have additional 

antibiotic use reporting requirements as outlined 3.8.6.4.

8. Required documentation for all hatchery administration of 

antibiotics must be included in the annual internal 

and USDA-AMS audits

5. Medically important antibiotics must be administered in a manner 

that minimizes the number of animals treated and used for the 

least number of days necessary to achieve effective treatment 

outcomes.

6. Antibiotics not included in FDA GFI 152 Appendix A, Table A1 are 

considered not to be medically important for humans and may be 

used in accordance with FDA regulations.

Addressing recurring use of medically important antibiotics for more than 

2 consecutive flock cycles in the same poultry house:

1. Appropriate veterinary ordered treatments for sick animals is 

required. Withholding medically necessary antibiotic treatment 

as determined by a licensed veterinarian is not allowed. However, 

program participants are committed to continuously work with animal 

producers to resolve health challenges on their farms to reduce or 

eliminate the need for consecutive flock treatments with medically 

important antibiotics. Producers are required to provide increased 

veterinary care and oversight to poultry houses requiring multiple 

consecutive antibiotic treatments. This includes escalating required 

actions for such premises as outlined below. The goal of these actions 

is to return the affected premise to a more consistently healthy animal 

state through collaboration between producers and appropriate 

animal health experts as deemed necessary. 

2. Required mitigation steps after the 3rd consecutive flock treatment 

with medically important antibiotics in the same poultry house:

1. After the third such administration, a veterinary 

investigation and action plan outlining farm specific 

practices implemented to reduce the need to treat 

subsequent flocks with medically antibiotics on 

that premise is required before the placement of the 

next flock in the affected house. Implementation of 

the plan must be documented. All third consecutive 

treatment flock veterinary actions plan must be included 

in the semi-annual review of the animal health plan.
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3.7 Addressing 

Recurring Use of 

Restricted Use 

Antibiotics

(Continued)

3.8 Training and 

Documentation

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3. Required mitigation steps after the 4th or more consecutive flock 

treatment with medically important antibiotics in the same poultry 

house: 

1. Should medically important antibiotics be administered 

to four or more consecutive flock cycles raised in the 

same poultry house, consultation with a qualified 

(diplomat of the American College of Poultry 

Veterinarians) poultry veterinarian who is not the current 

veterinarian of record with valid VCPR is required before 

additional flocks may be placed in the affected house. 

The veterinary consultant is required to visit the 

farm to review disease history, antibiotic treatments 

and management practices and provide written 

recommendations intended to improve poultry 

health outcome in the affected house. 

Recommendations of the veterinarian consultant reviewer 

must be considered in the new veterinary 

action plan written by the veterinarian of record with 

valid VCPR outlining farm specific practices implemented 

intending to reduce the need to treat subsequent flocks 

with medically important antibiotics for the affected 

house. Implementation of the plan must be documented. 

All fourth or more consecutive treatment flock veterinary 

actions plans must be included in the semi-annual 

review of the animal health plan.

1. Procedures must be in place to verify and document that 

instructions for administration of all antibiotics were 

communicated, understood, and followed by the animal 

caretaker.

2. Procedures must be in place to verify and document that, at a 

minimum, antibiotic withdrawal periods required by the FDA 

were completed prior to harvesting to ensure that violative drug 

residues will not be found in the meat originating from treated 

animals.

3. Records of use of all antibiotics (both medically important and 

non-medically important) must be maintained at a minimum for 

the two most current years.

4. Indication for treatment must be recorded for each therapeutic 

individual poultry house administration via drinking water or 

hatchery administration of all antibiotics including both medically 

important and non-medically important antibiotics.
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3.8 Training and 

Documentation

(Continued)

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5. Annual antibiotic usage (both medically important and nonmedically important) must be calculated and reported using the 

following method:

mg/kg total annual live animal biomass will be the 

metric used defined as follows:

1. mg = mgs of active drug administered annually

2. Conversion ratio used for Penicillin G is 1560 IU/mg

3. kg total annual animal biomass = total annual 

biomass of all animals produced in the poultry 

complex calculated as total number of heads 

processed in one harvest facility x average live 

slaughter weight in kilograms

6. To ensure consistency in calculating mg/kg annual antibiotic 

use by producers these calculations will be completed by 

NIAMRRE for each individual antibiotic by active ingredient 

using the following producer provided data:

1. Total milligrams of each individual antibiotic by 

active ingredient administered during the previous 

calendar year 

2. Total number of animals processed in one harvest 

facility during the previous calendar year

3. Average live slaughter weight in kilograms of animals 

processed in one harvest facility during the previous 

calendar year 

4. Hatchery administered antibiotics require additional 

reporting requirements

1. Hatchery administered antibiotics are required to 

be included in the annual antibiotic use reports as 

outlined in 3.8.5. 

2. The total number of animals receiving hatchery 

antibiotics processed in one harvest facility during 

the previous calendar year must be reported. 
One Health CertifiedTM - Chicken Standards Version 1C - June2020

1. Approved animal welfare programs for meat chickens must include all aspects of poultry 

production including hatchery operations, chick delivery, on farm management practices, 

harvesting, transportation, unloading and slaughter procedures. 

2. The most current version of approved animal welfare programs must be used

3. Programs that meet these criteria are listed below:

1. National Chicken Council Animal Welfare Guidelines and Audit Checklist for 

Broilers.

2. American Humane CertifiedTM Animal Welfare Standards for Broilers in conjunction 

with the American Humane CertifiedTM Hatcheries (Chicks and Poults) 

Animal Welfare Standards

4. Participants must successfully pass a third-party audit to one of the approved listed programs 

annually.

1. A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) calculation of the entire animal production system for all animals 

produced during the previous calendar year to determine the carbon footprint of production 

(total kg CO2/kg meat) is required. To ensure consistency in calculation of this measurement 

the LCA will be completed by NIAMRRE using required producer provided data for all animals 

produced during the previous calendar year for each chicken harvest plant identified by a 

unique USDA P number. An established LCA model such as the most current version of the 

Food and Agriculture Organization of theUnited Nations (FAO) Global Livestock Environmental 

Assessment Model (GLEAM http://www.fao.org/gleam/en/) or similar model as determined 

by NIAMRRE will be used to make this calculation. Producers must contact the OHC program 

coordinator at programcoordinator@onehealthcertified.org to receive instructions on what 

annual data and production information required to be submitted for this calculation.

2. All farms are required to have and follow a written site-specific waste disposal and/or nutrient 

management plan or permit in full compliance with the requirements of the State in which the 

farm is located within in addition to meeting any such Federal plan or permit requirements.

4. Third Party Audited 

Animal Welfare Program

5. Environmental Measures

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How You Will Be Measured

How You Will Be Measured
One Health CertifiedTM - Chicken Standards Version 1C - June 2020

1. Internal audits to ensure compliance with all OHC-Chicken program requirements must at a 

minimum be completed annually.

2. External federal government audits conducted by USDA-AMS auditors to ensure compliance with 

all program requirements must at a minimum be completed annually.

1. To meet the requirements of the OHC-Chicken program, a producer must be 

audited through the USDA Process Verified Program (PVP) which is defined 

in the QAD 1001 procedures. Government audits by USDA-AMS personnel 

will include all relevant areas of chicken production to ensure compliance with all 

requirements of the OHC-Chicken standard, including segregation of nonconforming product through packaging.

2. USDA-AMS must submit a copy of all completed OHC-Chicken audit reports to the 

NIAMRRE by email to programcoordinator@onehealthcertified.org within 60 days 

of completion of the on-site audit.

6. Auditing Requirements

7. Document Retention

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All documents utilized to administrate and/or verify compliance with OHC-Chicken program 

requirements must be retained and available for review for a period of at least two years. Both 

digital and/or hard copies of documents are permitted.
One Health CertifiedTM - Chicken Standards Version 1C - June2020

8. OHC Logo Use Restrictions

1. The following label claims related to animal production practices are not permitted to be 

included or displayed on OHC retail or wholesale labeled products:

1. Cage Free and derivatives

2. All Vegetable Diet and derivatives

3. No Animal Byproducts and derivatives

4. No Antibiotics Ever and derivatives

5. No Antibiotics Important in Human Medicine and derivatives

6. No Subtherapeutic Antibiotics and derivatives

7. Non-GMO and derivatives

2. The USDA Process Verified shield logo may be displayed adjacent to the OHC logo on OHC 

labeled retail or wholesale products by following instructions outlined by USDA-AMS at 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing/pvp-shield

1. All labels including the USDA-Process Verified shield logo must first be approved by 

USDA-AMS prior to submission to FSIS Labeling for approval

3. One Health CertifiedTM label is eligible for pass through certification to Further Processing 

facilities.

1. Further processing facilities who desire to label OHC products must operate 

 a verifiable product segregation and traceability plan that meets FSIS Labeling 

 requirements from incoming ingredients to final packaging to ensure that OHC 

 labeled products are produced using only OHC certified meat ingredients

4. Logo use rules will be outlined at https://www.onehealthcertified.org

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9. Annual Reporting Requirements 

and Associated Fees

1. An annual summary report for each chicken processing plant identified using the associated 

USDA P number that is certified to produce OHC labeled product must be provided to the 

NIAMRRE by the end of February of each year using data from all animals processed during the 

previous calendar year. The annual summary report must include at a minimum the following 

information: 

1. Complete list of indications for all therapeutic drinking water or hatchery 

administered antibiotics including medically important and non-medically 

important antibiotics as outlined in 3.8.4

2. Complete list of all premises requiring external review by third party poultry 

veterinarian as outlined in 3.7.3.1 and calculated total square footage of 

these premises as a percentage of total animal placement capacity available in the 

poultry complex.

3. Complete antibiotic use report including medically important and non-medically 

important antibiotics as outlined in 3.8.5

4. Production data and inputs necessary to complete annual life cycle assessment 

carbon footprint calculation

5. Other information as requested by NIAMRRE or as outlined at 

https://www.onehealthcertified.org at the time the report is submitted.

2. The current required annual participation fee for program participants to be paid to NIAMRRE 

including instructions for payment as outlined at https://www.onehealthcertified.org

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One Health CertifiedTM - Chicken Standards Version 1C - June2020

Score Table 1: Treatment started AFTER daily mortality exceeds action threshold

1.0 After treatment ends daily mortality has declined to below action threshold

2.0 After treatment ends daily mortality has declined below the level when treatment was 

initiated but remains above action threshold

3.0 After treatment ends daily mortality has not changed from the level when treatment was 

initiated

4.0 After treatment ends daily mortality has increased above the level when treatment was 

initiated

Score Table 2: Treatment started BEFORE daily mortality exceeds action threshold 

1.0 After treatment ends daily mortality has declined to below the level when treatment was 

initiated

2.0 After treatment ends daily mortality has not changed from the level when treatment was 

initiated

3.0 After treatment ends daily mortality has increased from the level when treatment was 

initiated but remains below action threshold

4.0 After treatment ends daily mortality has increased from the level when treatment was 

initiated to above action threshold

Response to treatment outcomes for each veterinarian ordered treatment must be 

determined and documented as follows: 

Treatment outcomes are measured using a sliding 4-point scale with 1 

being the best to 4 being the worst. Use Table 1 OR Table 2, on the next 

page, depending on mortality level on the day that treatment is initiated to 

determine the appropriate treatment outcome score.

Appendix A - Action Thresholds

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