United Egg Producers Announce Animal-Welfare Auditing Relationship With American Humane Association

April 3, 2008, Alpharetta, GA – United Egg Producers (UEP), a trade association representing most U.S. egg farmers and companies, has developed a new working relationship with the Denver-based American Humane Association, the only national organization dedicated to protecting both children and animals.

Under terms of the agreement between the two organizations, UEP will recognize American Humane Certified™animal welfare audits as also meeting UEP Certified standards if those egg producers also meet some additional criteria. The American Humane Certified program — which is the nation's first and original animal-welfare label attesting to the humane treatment of animals involved in food production — establishes guidelines for the production of eggs from hens in cage-free and free-range farm systems, while the UEP Certified program provides science-based guidelines for the production of eggs from hens either in modern cage production housing systems or cage-free farm systems. 

Under terms of the agreement, an egg farmer who passes the American Humane Certified audit, pays the fees and is a member in good standing with the UEP Certified Program and meets the UEP guidelines on 100% of their egg production, can then use the UEP Certified logo and market those eggs as UEP Certified in addition to marketing them as American Humane Certified and using the American Humane Certified logo. The advantage to an egg farmer is that they would not have to undergo and pay for a second audit of their farm, as UEP will accept the American Humane Certified animal welfare audit. 

"When UEP began developing science-based guidelines for the production of eggs in modern cage housing systems in the late 1990s, the American Humane Association participated in those discussions," said Gene Gregory, president of UEP. "We're pleased to renew a working relationship with them and we have always regarded them as one of the most credible animal-welfare organizations in the country." 

Marie Belew Wheatley, president and CEO of American Humane, said, "We are enthusiastic about this agreement between our organizations that will facilitate certification of more egg producers who are in compliance with American Humane standards. Certification by both organizations assures consumers that they will be able to find humanely produced eggs in more locations."  

Web site links: 
United Egg Producers: http://www.uepcertified.com/

American Humane Society: http://www.americanhumane.org/