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USDA ISO Technical Specification 34700

Animal Welfare Assessment Program

1 Purpose

This document provides the requirements to be met by organizations applying to the USDA 

International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Specification (TS) Animal Welfare 

Assessment Program for review by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Livestock and 

Poultry Program, Quality Assessment Division (QAD). These assessments provide organizations 

with a means of marketing animal welfare programs and standards as internationally equivalent.

The USDA ISO TS Animal Welfare Assessment Program is a voluntary conformity assessment 

service provided by QAD under the Quality Systems Verification Programs. This Program 

facilitates the marketing and distribution of certified agricultural products.

2 Scope

QAD conducts assessments of an organization’s animal welfare programs and standards to 

determine conformance to 1) the USDA IS TS 34700 Animal Welfare Management - General 

requirements and guidance for organizations in the food supply chain, and 2) applicable World 

Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Codes (TAHC). This Program is 

available to U.S. and international organizations interested in marketing the international acceptance 

of their animal welfare programs and standards.

3 References

The following referenced documents are used for the application of this document. For dated 

references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the 

referenced document (including any amendments) applies. 

QAD 1060 Procedure: USDA ISO Technical Specification 34700 Animal Welfare Assessment 

Program 

QAD 1000 Procedure: Quality Systems Verification Programs, General Policies and Procedures

QAD 1115 Procedure: Program Review Committee

QAD 1060A: ISO TS Animal Welfare Management Checklist 

QAD 1060B: Animal Welfare and Broiler Chicken Production Systems Checklist

QAD 1060C: Animal Welfare and Dairy Cattle Production Systems Checklist 

QAD 1060D: Animal Welfare and Beef Cattle Production Systems Checklist
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QAD 1060E: Slaughter of Animals Checklist

QAD 1060F: Transport of Animals by Air Checklist

QAD 1060G: Transport of Animals by Sea Checklist

QAD 1060H: Transport of Animals by Land Checklist

QAD 1060I: General Animal Welfare Checklist

ISO TS 34700 Animal welfare management – General requirements and guidance for organizations 

in the food supply chain

OIE TAHC 7.1 Introduction to the recommendations for animal welfare

OIE TAHC 7.2 Transport of animals by sea

OIE TAHC 7.3 Transport of animals by land

OIE TAHC 7.4 Transport of animals by air

OIE TAHC 7.5 Slaughter of animals

OIE TAHC 7.9 Animal welfare and beef cattle production systems

OIE TAHC 7.10 Animal welfare and broiler chicken production systems

OIE TAHC 7.11 Animal welfare and dairy cattle production systems

USDA: Auditing and Accreditation website

4 Definitions

Definitions are provided in the ISO TS 34700, Section 3, Terms and definitions.

5 Responsibilities

5.1 Organizations must meet all applicable policies, procedures, and requirements outlined in 

this document, ISO TS 347000 Animal welfare management, applicable OIE TAHCs that are 

relevant for the organization, and QAD 1000 Procedure.

5.2 Organizations must provide access to information, documents, and records as necessary for 

the assessment and maintenance of the program.

5.3 QAD must meet all applicable policies, procedures, and requirements outlined in this 

document, QAD 1000 Procedure, and referenced documents, as applicable.

6 Websites
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6.1 The USDA: Auditing and Accreditation website provides information on all QAD audit and 

assessment activities, including:

• The USDA: ISO TS 34700 Assessment Program website. This website provides 

information regarding the USDA ISO TS 34700 Animal Welfare Assessment Program, 

including relevant documents and standards, guidance, and the Official Listing.

7 Audit Frequency

7.1 After applicants receive a satisfactory desk audit of the animal welfare documentation, the 

applicant receives an onsite audit. An annual renewal audit is conducted within 12 months from the 

initial onsite audit with subsequent audits conducted annually thereafter.

7.2 The assessment will include all types of sites where key animal welfare management system 

activities occur such as the organization’s office, a processing facility, farms, transportation, etc.

8 Application for Service

8.1 By submitting an application for service per the QAD 1000 Procedure, the organization 

agrees to meet the requirements outlined in this document, the ISO TS 34700 Animal welfare 

management – General requirements and guidance for organizations in the food supply chain, 

applicable OIE TAHC, and QAD 1000 Procedure.

8.2 Organizations must submit an application for service in accordance with the requirements 

outlined in QAD 1000 Procedure.

8.3 In addition, the animal welfare organization must submit the following information relevant 

to the assessment:

a) A description of the animal welfare standard and programs and standards that the 

organization undertakes;

b) A list of animal welfare standards, methods, and procedures for which the organization 

seeks an assessment, including limits of capability where applicable;

c) A hard copy or electronic copy of the organization’s relevant associated documents and 

records. The associated documents must meet the requirements of ISO TS 347000 Animal 

welfare management and applicable OIE TAHCs;

d) A completed QAD 1060A Checklist; and

e) A list of companies covered under the scope of the animal welfare programs and standards,

including locations.
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8.4 The organization may also be asked to submit the following information relevant to the 

assessment:

a) The standard(s) used;

b) The source of the standard(s);

c) The names of the members who developed the standard(s) and their qualifications; and

d) The process used to develop the standard(s).

9 Scope of ISO TS 34700 Animal Welfare Management

9.1 The ISO TS provides requirements and guidance for the implementation of the animal 56 

welfare principles as described in the introduction to the recommendations for animal welfare of the 

OIE TAHC.

9.2 The TS applies to terrestrial animals bred or kept for the production of food or feed. The 

following areas are excluded: animals used for research and educational activities, animals in 

animal shelters and zoos, companion animals, stray and wild animals, aquatic animals, killing for 

public or animal health purposes under the direction of the competent authority, humane killing 

traps for nuisance and fur species.

9.3 Application of the TS is intended to be limited to aspects for which process or speciesspecific Chapters are available in the animal welfare OIE TAHC.

9.4 The TS is designed to guide users in conducting a gap analysis and developing an animal 

welfare plan that is aligned with the OIE TAHC. It may also be used to facilitate the 

implementation of any public or private sector animal welfare standards that meet at least the OIE 

TAHC.

10 Desk Audit

10.1 A desk audit (i.e. document review) is conducted prior to the initial assessment in 

accordance with the requirements for desk audits as outlined in QAD 1000 Procedure. The 

organization may not request to forego the desk audit.

10.2 The scope of the desk audit is based on the organization’s animal welfare programs and 

standards conformance to the ISO TS 34700 Animal Welfare Management and all applicable OIE 

TAHCs.

10.3 In addition to meeting all applicable OIE TAHCs, the organization’s animal welfare 

programs and standards must meet the following sections of the ISO TS 34700:

a) Principles in developing an animal welfare plan.
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1. The organization shall develop an animal welfare plan that enables the implementation 

of OIE animal welfare principles and guidelines.

2. The organization shall establish and maintain the appropriate documentation and records 

related to the plan.

b) Developing an animal welfare plan.

1. Step 1: Identification of gaps.

i. Identification of relevant documents.

ii. Methodology for the identification of gaps.

2. Step 2: Drafting of the animal welfare plan.

3. Step 3: Implementation of the animal welfare plan.

4. Step 4: Plan evaluation and review.

Note: Refer to the TS and applicable OIE TAHCs for a description of all management and animal 

welfare requirements.

11 Initial Assessment

11.1 Initial assessments are conducted in accordance with the requirements for on-site audits as 

outlined in QAD 1000 Procedure.

11.2 Initial assessments include the entire organization’s animal welfare programs and standards, 

including associated documents and records, a review of files, and audits, if applicable.

11.3 In addition to visiting the main office, visits are made to all other premises of the 

organization from which one or more key activities are performed and which are covered by the 

scope of assessment.

12 Listing of Accredited Animal Welfare Programs and Standards

12.1 The QAD provides public information about the current status of the assessment via the 

Official Listing of Approved USDA ISO TS 34700 Animal Welfare Assessment Programs.

12.2 The Official Listing is maintained on the USDA: ISO TS 34700 Assessment Program 

website and contains information including:

a) Organization's name and address;

b) Organization’s contact information including telephone number and email address when 

available;
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c) Standards applied; 

d) Scope of assessment; 

e) Certificate number, as applicable;

f) Issue date and renewal date related to the current assessment period; and 

g) Original assessment date.

___________________________________

Jeff Waite, Branch Chief

Quality Assessment Division

Livestock and Poultry Program

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