Without any legal definitions for the terms, HFAC’s previous “Free Range” standards were written for what is now defined as “Pasture Raised” standards and had a requirement of 2.5 acres per 1000 birds (108 sq. “While it takes time for the entire industry to adapt best practices, we at HFAC have the opportunity to break ground, and we do so every year as we revise and raise our standards.” The Certified Humane® labeling program is in place to assure a trusted product for consumers who care about how animals are raised and slaughtered for food.” said Adele Douglass, HFAC’s Executive Director. “Any product labeling terms that are important to consumers need to be clearly defined. Pasture Raised and Free Range producers must meet all the standards in addition to those specific to the Pasture Raised and Free Range housing systems The hens must be outdoors year-round, with mobile or fixed housing where the hens can go inside at night to protect themselves from predators, or for up to two weeks out of the year, due only to very inclement weather. per bird) and the fields must be rotated. HFAC’s Certified Humane® “Pasture Raised” requirement is 1000 birds per 2.5 acres (108 sq. The hens must be outdoors, weather permitting (in some areas of the country, seasonal), and when they are outdoors they must be outdoors for at least 6 hours per day. HFAC’s Certified Humane® “Free Range” requirement is 2 sq. The USDA’s (and industry standard) definition for “Free Range” is that birds must have “outdoor access” or “access to the outdoors.” In some cases, this can mean access only through a “pop hole,” with no full-body access to the outdoors and no minimum space requirement. That process included review of animal research and visits to farms to review various outdoor systems. The Scientific Committee, and the producers had input and the Standards Committee did the final review. Ruth Newberry, Associate Professor at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, chaired the Poultry Committee within HFAC’s Scientific Committee. This change in standards means that Certified Humane® producers wishing to use the terms “Pasture Raised” or “Free Range” on packages must now meet the requirements of the newly defined categories.ĭr. Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) has revised their laying hen standards, which now divide the “Free Range” section of the standards into “Pasture Raised” and “Free Range.” The “Free Range” section was originally written for what is now defined as a “Pasture Raised” system the revised standards add a third category for birds which are outdoors seasonally. HFAC’s 28-member Scientific Committee has spent nearly two years reviewing all of the current research, which has resulted in new standards for the Certified Humane® label. 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - Humane Farm Animal Care (HFAC) announces new standards for products that are labeled Certified Humane® and either “Free Range” or “Pasture Raised.” There is currently no legal definition for “Free Range” or “Pasture Raised” in the United States, therefore these terms are often used on poultry packaging with no unilateral definitions for the consumer to trust. “Free Range” and “Pasture Raised” Officially Defined By HFAC For Certified Humane® Label
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