After sifting through over 19,800 comments, the Agriculture Marketing Service (AMS), a branch of US Department of Agriculture (USDA), published its notice for grass-fed meat marketing. This standard is voluntary and allows producers of ruminant livestock to validate their claims through a third-party inspection. The grass-fed claim was revised and posted for comment May 2006 on the Federal Register with the final standard published in October. The intent of the standard is for marketing purposes and promotion.
Beginning in the late 70’s, all verification was done through the Livestock and Seed Program of the AMS. Products could also be verified through Quality System Verification Programs (QSVP) to verify claims that could not be substantiated through examination of livestock. It was a way to distinguish specific activities.
One specific part of that Program is USDA’s Process Verified Program. This allows suppliers to make marketing claims as to feeding practices or other raising and processing claims. These products after verification can be labeled as “USDA Process Verified”.
As more claims were made and certification sought, AMS determined it beneficial to establish standards for common production and marketing claims. These claims would be collectively part of a voluntary US Standard for Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims. They could be used in conjunction with other certified or verified programs recognized by AMS. It was a way to establish and promote common trade language.
Product labeling is a separate issue. Labels are handled by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), Labeling Program and Delivery Division. These labels may include grass-fed claims.

The language of the claim is simple, quoted below:
“Claim and Standard Grass (Forage) Fed—Grass and forage shall be the feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. The diet shall be derived solely from forage consisting of grass (annual and perennial), forbs (e.g., legumes, Brassica), browse, or cereal grain crops in the vegetative (pre-grain) state. Animals cannot be fed grain or grain byproducts and must have continuous access to pasture during the growing season. Hay, haylage, baleage, silage, crop residue without grain, and other roughage sources may also be included as acceptable feed sources. Routine mineral and vitamin supplementation may also be included in the feeding regimen. If incidental supplementation occurs due to inadvertent exposure to non-forage feedstuffs or to ensure the animal’s well being at all times during adverse environmental or physical conditions, the producer must fully document (e.g., receipts, ingredients, and tear tags) the supplementation that occurs including the amount, the frequency, and the supplements provided.”
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