From January 24-28, 2005, the USDA Agricultural
Marketing Services (AMS), completed their second audit in
Uruguay to review the National Beef Institute's (INAC) Natural
Beef Program. This program certifies certain Uruguay beef
cattle as "natural", meaning that:
1) they are raised without
the use of hormones, antibiotics or animal origin proteins;
2) the animals are grass fed in open range; and
3) source verified.
USDA AMS officials visited two farms and one slaughter facility, interviewed plant managers and Ministry
of Livestock Agriculture and Fisheries (MGAP) officials
to verify that all procedures are in accordance with USDA
requirements.
AMS specialists were positively impressed
with the high standards of the INAC's program. Uruguay is
the only country in the world that has a program with the
accreditation of the USDA Process Verified mechanism. Only
fourteen US companies hold the same accreditation.
