Verification

For your operation to become a certified Quality Starts Here (QSH) farm, you must meet some basic criteria. You must:

• attend a QSH Verified Beef Production training session

• monitor the mandatory Critical Control Points through the use of permanent records and written Standard Operating Procedures, and

• be officially audited (verified).

Steps for On-Farm Certification

1. Attend the QSH  training course.

2. Complete or update previous QSH Standard Operating Procedures for your beef operation. Ensure that the records required for on-farm certification are completed, current, and available for review.

3. Contact your provincial QSH coordinator for assistance with your plan. An auditor then assesses your plan.

4. a . If you have successfully completed the on-farm certification process, congratulations! You’ll receive a QSH  Verified Beef Production certificate from your provincial agency.
   b. Sometime in the future, you’ll apply for re-certification and/or re-training.

5. If your plan needs some improvement or has gaps, don’t despair. The auditor will give you
   a report that points out its shortcomings. You can consult with the provincial QSH  coordinator and related support services, such as a beef nutritionist or veterinarian.
   You can then apply for re-assessment.