Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1050 Procedure 

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 August 30, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 1 of 3 

VERIFIED OPERATIONS REGISTRY

1. Purpose

This document provides the requirements to be met by an operation requesting to be included on the Verified 

Operations Registry. The Verified Operations Registry is a voluntary registry maintained by the Quality 

Assessment Division (QAD) under Quality Systems Verification Programs. The registry facilitates the 

marketing and distribution of certified agricultural products. 

2. Scope

The registry is available to U.S. operations whose products are certified as meeting specified marketing 

claims. Marketing claims may include, but are not limited to, USDA Organic, USDA Grass Fed, Never Ever 

Three, Non-Hormone Treated, Age Verified, and Source Verified. Operations may be certified by U.S. or 

international certification bodies, companies with approved USDA Process Verified Programs, companies 

with approved USDA Quality System Assessment Programs, or by the QAD. 

3. References

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

QAD 1050 Procedure: Verified Operations Registry 

QAD 1050A: Verified Operations Registry Certificate

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

USDA Verified Operations Registry (VOR) website

4. Responsibilities

4.1. Operations are responsible for ensuring that the required documentation is provided to the QAD upon 

request. 

4.2. Operations must provide access to information, documents, and records as necessary to continue to be 

listed on the Registry. Operations also agree to provide access to all premises as necessary to verify 

the marketing claims.

4.3. Operations must inform the QAD, without delay, of significant changes relevant to its inclusion on the 

Registry.

4.4. The QAD conducts verification activities as necessary and provides due notice of any changes to the 

requirements of the Registry. Activities are conducted in accordance with QAD 1000 Procedure. 

5. Listing of Certified Operations

5.1. The QAD provides public information about operations verified in accordance with Section 6 via the 

USDA Verified Operations Registry. 
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1050 Procedure 

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 August 30, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 2 of 3 

5.2. The Registry is maintained on the internet and contains information including: 

a) Operation’s name;

b) Operation’s address (city and state);

c) Operation’s contact information including a telephone number and email address when available; 

d) Marketing claim; 

e) Certified products; 

f) Third-party verifier;

g) Date of inclusion onto the registry; and

h) Renewal date. 

6. Requirements

6.1 Certified by a U.S. or international certification body

a. On an annual basis, the operation must provide the QAD with a copy of its current certificate 

issued by the certification body. The certificate must include the product(s), marketing claim(s), 

and location(s). 

b. The operation must continue to be in good standing with the certification body. 

c. The operation must provide written notification to the certification body that it is requesting 

inclusion onto the USDA Verified Operations Registry. A copy of this notification must be 

provided to the QAD. 

6.2 Certified under an approved USDA Process Verified Program or USDA Quality System 

Assessment Program

a. On an annual basis, the operation must provide the QAD with a document verifying approval 

under the approved program. The document must include the product(s), marketing claim(s), 

and location(s). 

b. The operation must continue to be in good standing with the company issuing the document. 

c. The operation must provide written notification to the company that it is requesting inclusion 

onto the USDA Verified Operations Registry. A copy of this notification must be provided to the 

QAD.

6.3 Certified by the Quality Assessment Division

a. On an annual basis, the QAD conducts an onsite audit of the operation to verify the marketing 

claims.

b. The operation must have a documented program which outlines how the marketing claim is met. 

c. The operation must maintain records which support that the marketing claim is met.
Agricultural Quality Assessment Division QAD 1050 Procedure 

Marketing 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Stop 0258 August 30, 2019

Service Washington, DC 20250 Page 3 of 3 

d. The operation must continue to be in good standing with the QAD. 

e. Upon verification that the operation meets the marketing claims, the QAD will include the 

operation on the Verified Operations Registry. 

f. Once verified, the operation may make references to the verification in communication media. 

References must be complete and not misleading or ambiguous. 

Note 1: Acceptable references may include, for example, “[Operation’s] is verified as meeting 

the USDA Grass (Forage) Fed Marketing Claim Standard as listed on the USDA Verified 

Operations Registry.”

Note 2: QAD will issue a USDA Verified Operations Certificate upon request if the operation 

meets the specified marketing claims. 

______________________ 

Jeffery Waite, Branch Chief

Quality Assessment Division

Livestock and Poultry Program 

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