Become an SPCA Certified Farm

The SPCA Certified program welcomes all farms – large and small – interested in third-party farm animal welfare certification.

Participation is voluntary. Read on about the program – endorsements, standards, certification process. Request standards, registration forms, or to answer further questions. We can be reached by email, or via the phone, fax, or mail.

"The SPCA Certified program will help raise the bar for animal husbandry, and also provide consumers a guarantee that producers are following through on their commitments." Capers Community Markets

Reasons for Certification

Expert Recommendation

What our Farmers Say

"Our SPCA Certification helps us communicate our values to consumers, and the standards achieve a balance between animal well being and the cost of production. We are proud of what we do - the opportunity to take an action that will improve the quality of another being's life does not present itself often. It is a treasure that cannot be measured by economic value and it is a social statement that shows leadership and compassion." Steve Easterbrook, Rabbit River Farms, SPCA Certified since 2003

"We are the first beef farm in B.C. to be certified with the BC SPCA farm welfare certification. We got their certification in 2004 and we have been part of their program ever since. They have a wonderful group of farm welfare experts that visit our farm yearly and we stay in contact with them several times throughout the year. The relationship that we have with the SPCA has been of great value for us and for them with the ability to discuss current matters regarding the animal welfare at any time. We are very proud to be members of the BC SPCA and feel that they have done a lot to bring farm animal welfare to the public interest" Donna Gilmore, Painted River Farms, SPCA Certified since 2004

"We thought SPCA Certified and its label were a great way to differentiate our product in the market. As SPCA Certified producers, we are able to communicate our commitment to our animals and educate people about farm animal welfare." Ruechel family, Vale Farms, SPCA Certified since 2005.

What Consumers Say

"I was very impressed today at the grocery store when I saw a sticker of SPCA certification on a carton of eggs. Although I am not a strict vegetarian, I am still very concerned about the way animals are being treated by farmers and anyone else. As a consumer, I would also be much more likely to purchase an animal product with an SPCA certification than one without one."

"I am interested in purchasing meat and poultry from stores that carry products that are SPCA Certified. I would like to know that the animals have been treated well and any information you can provide to me would be helpful."

Integrity

Thoughtful, made-in-B.C. program built on collaboration with farmers, veterinarians, and animal welfare experts. BC SPCA staff and the program's independent Review Panel of experts provide advice and support for farms within the program, and those transitioning to our farm animal welfare standards.

Credibility

The BC SPCA is the largest welfare organization of its kind in North America. As the only SPCA in Canada with resources dedicated to farm animal initiatives, the BC SPCA is a national leader in the field of farm animal welfare.

Visibility

With our Provincial Office in Vancouver, and our 37 branches across B.C., the BC SPCA has a strong, committed presence in communities throughout the province.

We are an organization with one of the highest levels of positive media coverage.

Recent examples include:

• An article featuring the program and 4 SPCA Certified producers. This article appeared in the April 2009 edition of Western Living magazine (circulation 772,000 in western Canada).

• edible Vancouver magazine (circulation of 20,000 people in the Lower Mainland) -- A 2008 ad series, 2009 group ad with SPCA Certified farms.

• 2008-2009 sponsorship of EAT BC!, a province-wide local food awareness program.

Certification Process

Interested farms contact the BC SPCA for registration forms – by email or other means. Once filled in, the BC SPCA sends the paperwork to a contracted, independent Validator to visit the farm and assess compliance with the BC SPCA standards. During the farm visit, the Validator fills out a checklist and sends in the completed checklist with a report to the BC SPCA. The file is forwarded to an independent, expert Review Panel. It is the Review Panel that determines farm certification in the program.

Fees

Member farms pay an annual certification fee. Farms that are unconditionally certified two years in a row (read our Operations Manual for more details) are eligible to have their annual fee waived. Certification fees partially cover BC SPCA administration time, on-farm assessment and subsequent report, and the honorarium paid to the Review Panel.

Group Certification

Groups interested in certification, but wishing to maintain current certification system or group economics, can apply to the SPCA Certified program as a internal control group, and carry out annual certification under the group certification process. Interested? Contact the SPCA Certified program for further details.

Marketing

Marketing and promotions highlight participating farms and the SPCA Certified program. Activities include: tradeshows, local events, program support materials (e.g. rack cards, brochures) and media coverage.

Success

Since the 2002 launch of SPCA Certified, brand recognition has been increased by:

Extensive program information on our website, which attracts more than 2 million unique visits a year.
Articles and newsbriefs in AnimalSense magazine delivered bi-annually to 80,000 donors and supporters.
Regular articles in BC SPCA e-newsletters, distributed to more than 20,000 supporters and special interest groups.
Comprehensive print media coverage, including the Vancouver Sun; Vancouver Courier; Vancouver Province; TV Times; Country Life in BC; Surrey Leader; Nanaimo Daily News; Kelowna Capital News; Shared Vision; Granville magazine; and Western Living.
edible Vancouver magazine (circulation of 20,000 people in the Lower Mainland) -- A 2008 ad series, 2009 group ad with SPCA Certified farms.
A 2007 and 2009 Vancouver Transit Shelter ad campaign focused on SPCA Certified eggs.

Welfare