The purpose of RDS certification is to provide a starting point for the humanitarian protection of animals and to protect animals from treatment.
The scope of RDS certification:
The RDS standard certification applies to the entire poultry supply chain from hatching to the final product produced, and is not subject to geographical restrictions. RDS certification applies to small farm vendors.
The standard also includes certification for breeder modules and for hybrid and 100% certified products. The final product is marked as a Responsible Down Standard, and an independent third party audit applies to the entire supply chain, including the down processing plants, the final product weavers and all traders, with the exception of retailers.
The RDS certificate is valid for 14 months and should be renewed upon expiration.
The purpose of RDS certification is to provide humanitarian treatment of poultry in the downstream supply chain by providing the industry's best tools and best practices to ensure that feathers come from non-essential animals. And establish a traceable system to verify that the source of the down material meets the RDS standard requirements.