What is the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) ISO Guide 65 program?
The Audit, Review, and Compliance Branch (ARC) of the USDA conducts voluntary conformity assessments and accreditation audits for certification agencies to determine adherence to the ISO Guide 65:1996 general requirements for bodies operating product certification systems. ISO Guide 65 specifies general requirements that a third-party operating a product or service certification system must meet to be recognized as competent and reliable. Adherence to the USDA ISO Guide 65 Program ensures that the certification agency operates a third-party certification system in a consistent and reliable manner. The USDA ISO Guide 65 Program is available to companies that operate product certification standards for livestock, meat, seed, or other agricultural products or services that are within the scope of the LS Program. To operate an approved USDA ISO Guide 65 Program, certification agencies must submit a documented program to the ARC Branch and successfully pass a conformity assessment and accre
