Veal Quality Assurance (VQA) is a program to ensure that veal calves are cared for with ethical management practices that will result in a safe, wholesome, consistent quality veal product for the consumer. Specifically, VQA is designed to enhance carcass quality by preventing residues, pathogen contamination and carcass defects, such as injection site blemishes and bruises. The national Veal Quality Assurance Program is based on recommended guidelines and scientific research. Most recently, the VQA Program animal care standards have been adopted by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture as part of their minimal animal care guidelines.

The Veal Quality Assurance program is unique to animal agriculture in that it includes commitment and participation of all segments of the veal industry. Currently these programs are voluntary - but the acceptance of the program among the different industry segments (beginning with producers) has been exceptional, and the entire industry will continue to strive for 100 percent involvement in the certification program. The VQA program includes family veal farmers, local veterinarians, veal feed companies, veal animal health suppliers, veal packers, and the American Veal Association (AVA) working together to provide the safest product possible for our clients - the consumer.

Beef checkoff funded Joint VIM/VQA Committee develops Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct

In July 2009, the beef checkoff funded Joint VIM/VQA Committee convened a process to identify and articulate veal industry guiding principles to give consumers, customers and stakeholders assurances that veal is dedicated to doing what's right. These principles allow us to clearly communicate our commitment and our values. Too often we've allowed our industry to be defined by others. This is our opportunity to proactively define who we are and lay the foundation for an improved quality assurance program that builds consumer trust and confidence in the contemporary veal industry.

The draft principles were distributed throughout the veal industry for feedback and support. The final document was included in the Veal Beef checkoff funded Veal Long-Range Plan and approved by American Veal Association delegates at the 2010 Annual Meeting.

The goal of the Veal Quality Assurance (VQA) program is to build consumer trust and confidence in veal and to demonstrate our commitment to producing a safe, nutritious and delicious product for our customers. We know that today's consumer is less informed about animal agriculture in general and veal production in particular. We also know from consumer research that communicating our shared values and ethics is four to five times more important in building consumer trust than being able to prove what we do is scientifically sound. Simply put, consumers, restaurants, retailers and policy makers want to know that they can count on the veal industry to do "what's right."

As veal producers and others involved in the industry, we know that we are committed to producing safe nutritious food, protecting the environment, caring for our animals, providing a safe rewarding work environment and contributing to our communities. Unfortunately, unless we articulate that commitment as part of VQA we can't assume that our customers and consumers understand that we are committed to doing what's right.

Ethical Standards and Code of Conduct for the US Veal Industry

The U.S. veal industry recognizes that consumers and customers expect our practices and products to reflect our obligation to produce safe food in a responsible manner consistent with the values of our customers and consumers. To foster more confidence in our practices and promote a better understanding of our guiding principles, we affirm the following ethical standards and code of conduct for those involved in the U.S. veal industry:

• Food Safety: Producing safe and nutritious food is our first responsibility Veal Producers are expected to:
  • Adopt on farm and management practices consistent with producing safe food
  • Adopt animal care practices consistent with producing safe food
  • Use animal health products judiciously
  • Continually review practices for improvements that protect food safety
• Animal Care: We have an ethical obligation to provide appropriate care for our animals at every stage of life Veal Producers are expected to:
  • Safeguard and promote the health and well-being of animals in their care
  • Provide appropriate water, food, shelter, handling and transportation at all times
  • Respect the special considerations and needs of young calves
  • Provide appropriate veterinary care at all stages of life, and when necessary timely euthanasia.
• Environment: We have an obligation to protect the air, land and water on which we all depend Veal Producers are expected to:
  • Conserve and manage manure and other nutrients as a resource
  • Assure that production and other management practices protect our natural resources including land, air and water.
  • Continually review environmental management activities for improvement and sustainability
• Employees: We have an ethical responsibility to provide a safe, healthy and rewarding work environment for our employees Veal Producers are expected to:
  • Treat every employee with dignity and respect
  • Provide proper education and training in all areas of farm management and animal care
  • Promote a safe and healthy work environment
  • Promote understanding of and adherence to veal industry ethical principles
• Community: We have a duty to promote a quality way of life in the communities where we live and work Veal Producers are expected to:
  • Actively participate in activities that strengthen the community
  • Engage neighbors and the community in an open and honest manner
  • Resolve to listen to and address reasonable community concerns
  • Seek to leave the community and natural resources in a better condition for future generations

Frequently Asked Questions about the Ethical Principles