Certification
Building National Confidence in Swine Health and Disease Preparedness
The U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP) is a collaborative, producer-driven initiative modeled after the successful U.S. Poultry Health Improvement Plan. Established to enhance the nation’s ability to prevent, prepare for, and respond to foreign animal diseases, US SHIP provides a consistent, science-based certification framework recognized across state and national borders.
Participation in US SHIP demonstrates a producer’s commitment to animal health, biosecurity, and traceability—strengthening the overall integrity of the U.S. pork industry.
Purpose of US SHIP
The goal of US SHIP is to establish a national certification platform that supports:
Demonstrated disease status for key foreign animal diseases such as African Swine Fever and Classical Swine Fever.
Consistent biosecurity standards and verification across all sectors of pork production.
Improved communication between producers, veterinarians, packers, and animal health officials.
Rapid recovery of commerce and movement in the event of a disease detection.
By aligning producers and regulatory officials under one certification umbrella, US SHIP promotes transparency, trust, and readiness across the entire pork supply chain.
Key Components of Participation
Enrollment through an Official State Agency (OSA): Producers enroll in partnership with their state animal health authority.
Adherence to Program Standards: Maintain approved biosecurity, surveillance, and recordkeeping practices that meet national guidelines.
Certification Tiers: Operations can earn recognition as US SHIP Certified for specific disease statuses or program levels.
Continuous Improvement: Participants engage in annual updates and verifications to ensure ongoing compliance and improvement.
This unified approach allows producers of all sizes—commercial, show pig, and niche—to be part of a nationally recognized effort protecting herd health and market stability.
Why It Matters
Participation in US SHIP enhances confidence in the U.S. swine industry both domestically and internationally. Certification provides a framework that supports disease prevention, emergency preparedness, and continuity of business during an outbreak—protecting animal welfare and the livelihoods of producers nationwide.
“US SHIP represents the future of swine health management—uniting producers, veterinarians, and officials under a common purpose: protecting our herds and our markets.”
— Team Pork Initiative
Educational Resources
Learn More and Enroll
Team Pork proudly supports participation in US SHIP as a key step toward a stronger, more unified pork industry. Together with AgView and the Secure Pork Supply Plan, this certification framework ensures that producers are connected, protected, and prepared—today and for the future.