Enhances Biosecurity
Establishes baseline practices to protect your pigs and your livelihood
Advances Traceability
Sets standards for data reporting and recordkeeping that help ensure the movement of healthy swine
Improves Disease Surveillance
Leverages sampling and testing to demonstrate herd health status and support commerce and trade
The Threat
African swine fever (ASF) and classical swine fever (CSF) are highly contagious and deadly diseases for both domestic and feral swine. If either virus is detected in the United States, approximately 76 million domestic pigs will be at risk.
The Plan
The U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (U.S. SHIP) is a cooperative State-Federal-industry program designed to improve the health and marketability of U.S. swine and pork products. Participants in this national pilot program can apply for disease-specific certifications recognized across participating States.
The Benefits
- Creates a national platform for standards—defined and updated annually by producers like you
- Issues certification for ASF- and CSF-monitored status
- Identifies and adopts biosecurity best practices, as defined by industry experts, to improve swine health
- Designed to increase domestic and international trade partner confidence in U.S. swine and pork products
The Endorsements
U.S. SHIP is a pilot program sponsored by APHIS Veterinary Services with the support of State and industry partners. The program has received endorsements from many leading organizations:
- United States Animal Health Association
- American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians
- National Pork Board
- National Pork Producers Council
- Meat Institute
What’s Your Role?
Small pig producers, show pig operations, large commercial producers, live animal marketing operations, and packing facilities can enroll their operations and become certified.
U.S. SHIP helps you protect your pigs. The program creates a national platform for establishing standards related to biosecurity, traceability, and sampling and testing.
Meeting the requirements to have your farm certified shows consumers and trading partners that you are committed to protecting your animals from disease.
Each State participating in the pilot program has a dedicated U.S. SHIP Official State Agency (OSA).
The OSA is responsible for enrolling, certifying, and maintaining the status of U.S. SHIP farms and facilities within their State.
They provide program support and are a direct contact at the local level for U.S. SHIP producers and facility owners.
U.S. SHIP program administrators within APHIS facilitate program development and maintain program documents.
These program administrators also:
- act as a liaison between APHIS Veterinary Services and U.S. swine industry organizations,
- provide technical and program-specific support to U.S. SHIP OSAs, and
- plan and oversee U.S. SHIP House of Delegates meetings.
The House of Delegates votes on U.S. SHIP program requirements.
The House of Delegates is made up of U.S. SHIP participants—like farm and facility owners. These delegates are appointed by their State’s pork producer association and their U.S. SHIP OSA.
The House of Delegates also includes the State animal health official (or their designee) from each participating State.
Working group members explore potential program advancements.
U.S. SHIP working groups focus on biosecurity, traceability, and sampling and testing. Working groups are open to all interested individuals and are a great way to engage with the program.
APHIS Veterinary Services reviews U.S. SHIP proposals after the House of Delegates meeting and assesses them for incorporation into the program requirements.
APHIS provides support to the OSAs, working groups, and House of Delegates.
Have a question?
Contact your U.S. SHIP OSA for help with enrollment, certification, and other local program needs.
For questions about the national program or help connecting with your OSA, contact the U.S. SHIP program administrators.