Audit Programs for Livestock,

Meat, Poultry, and Egg

Industries

The Quality Assessment Division (QAD), part of the 

AMS Livestock, Poultry and Seed (LPS) Program, 

provides a number of verification services and 

programs to assist in the marketing of agricultural 

products worldwide on a voluntary, user fee basis. In 

addition to the well-known grading services, retail 

symbols such as “USDA Certified Tender” beef and 

“USDA Process Verified” poultry are products of 

QAD verification services. 

QAD’s verification activities include a wide range of 

domestic and export auditing services designed to 

assist companies in assuring customers of their 

ability to provide consistent quality products or 

services. They also allow small businesses to 

differentiate themselves from their competition. The 

company’s programs are verified through 

independent third-party audits conducted by the 

QAD. Each audit follows a documented procedure to 

maintain a uniform process. 

QAD utilizes internationally recognized standards 

for evaluating program documentation to ensure 

reliable auditing practices and promote international 

recognition of audit results. Export verification 

programs often provide assurance that contractual 

agreements, foreign government requirements, and 

other requirements are met. The specified product 

requirements may be identified by the company or 

may be those outlined in a USDA Export 

Verification Program. 

The majority of our audit programs fall under the 

broad category of Quality System Verification 

Programs (QSVPs). Under the umbrella of QSVPs, 

there are two major program categories. 

Process Verified Program 

Built upon the International 

Organization for Standardization 

(ISO) 9001 Quality Management 

Systems Standard, the Process 

Verified Program (PVP) involves 

a comprehensive quality management system 

review, which allow companies to market their 

products using the USDA PVP shield. The PVP 

allows companies to develop their own marketing 

claims, such as a feeding claim. PVP companies are 

required to develop a Quality Manual and AMS 

verifies the company’s adherence to those processes 

through routine audits. Labels require the approval of 

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). 

For example, companies must have a quality policy, 

conduct internal audits, and continue to strengthen 

and improve their program. Because of this 

comprehensive quality management system, 

companies generally undergo fewer audits each year 

as compared to other AMS programs. 
November 2015 

Quality System Assessment Program 

The Quality Systems Assessment (QSA) Program 

uses the same requirements of the ISO 9001, but 

some requirements are excluded making programs 

less comprehensive. The QSA Program is designed 

to aid in the marketing of products that have specific 

claims, and are limited in scope to those specific 

items associated with the product or process claim. 

Because there are fewer requirements for a 

comprehensive quality management program, 

companies operating under a QSA Program are 

audited at least twice per year. Export Verification 

(EV) Programs, which are designed to address 

specific requirements of foreign governments for 

international trade, are a common type of QSA. 

Some major differences between traditional QSA programs and more comprehensive PVP are outlined below: 

 Quality Systems Assessment Program Process Verified Program 

Audit 

Criteria 

ISO 9001 Requirements for Quality 

Management Systems (for applicable product 

or process claims only (pre-determined) 

ISO 9001 Requirements for Quality Management 

Systems (comprehensive with company determining 

claims or standards to use) 

Approval 

Process 

Submit quality manual (desk audit); on-site 

audit; bi-annual audit 

Submit quality manual (desk audit); on-site audit; annual 

audit including companies associated with claim 

Marketing Official listing on QAD website 

No USDA shield available 

Official listing on QAD PVP website 

USDA PVP shield is allowed for use on marketing 

materials with prior AMS approval. 

Types of 

Claims 

(examples) 

Non-hormone treated beef and pork for the 

European Union; age verification; removal of 

specified risk materials (for example, spinal 

cord); beta agonist free 

Source verification of animals; genetic traceability; never 

fed or given hormones, antibiotics, or animal protein in 

feeds; animal raising claims; feeding claims 

Specific 

Programs 

(examples) 

Poultry, Egg, and Egg Product Export 

Verification Program; Less than 30 month 

old cattle (LT30) Program for export of 

products to the Pacific Rim 

USDA Certified Tender/Very Tender; Never Fed Beta 

Agonists; service claims for livestock and poultry 

producers 

The requirements for the PVP and the 

QSA Program are available online to 

ensure transparency. AMS also 

conducts other audit-related activities 

such as traditional third-party audits; 

contractual audits between suppliers 

and contractors for the National 

School Lunch Program; and the Grass 

Fed Program for Small and Very 

Small Producers. 

Contact Us for Service 

Phone: (202) 720-3271 

Email: QAD.auditservice@ams.usda.gov 

Find out more at: 

http://www.ams.usda.gov/services/auditing