USDA Will Not Recognize Third-Party Inspections Regarding Animal Welfare

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, better known as APHIS, will not establish new criteria for recognizing third-party inspection and certification programs when determining the Agency’s own inspection frequency under the Animal Welfare Act.

In December of last year, APHIS announced a series of public listening sessions as for leadership to gather information about the concept of third-party inspections from stakeholders, state partners and the public.  However, APHIS says it found the vast majority of the comments were not in favor of establishing new criteria for recognizing third-party inspection and certification programs.  USDA says stakeholders on all sides of the issue expressed concern about APHIS’ ability to maintain responsibility for inspections and Animal Welfare Act compliance should third-party inspections be taken into account when determining APHIS inspection frequencies.

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