In 2020, the results from a 12-month case study on the long-standing National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) commissioned by the Swine Health Information Management Center (SHIC) suggested that the basic tenets and approach used by NPIP could serve as a road map for pork producers and packers (slaughter facilities) interested in more directly and systematically addressing the major swine health issues of high consequence and better positioning the future of the U.S. pork industry in the domestic and global marketplace. Thus, the United States began the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), which is a national certification program for safeguarding and bettering swine health. This producer-driven program is designed to protect the livelihood of swine producers and the U.S. pork industry from the constant threat of foreign animal diseases (FAD). SHIP establishes consistent biosecurity and health technical standards for disease control, focusing initially on African swine fever (ASF) and classical swine fever (CSF).

How does it work?
US SHIP is a cooperative state-federal-industry program intended to improve the health and marketability of U.S. swine and swine products. Participants in this national program can apply for disease specific certifications recognized across participating states.
• Biosecurity standards establish baseline practices to improve herd health
• Disease surveillance increases confidence of disease-free status
• Traceability advances animal movement data record keeping

Who is involved?
From large production and packing facilities to all sizes of pork producers and pig owners, SHIP is designed for everyone. Particularly,
• Producers
• Packers
• Veterinarians
• Diagnostic labs
• State and federal officials

What are the benefits?
The SHIP program helps protect the businesses and livelihoods of swine producers by
• Providing the standards producers need to implement to help improve their FAD preparedness.
• Helping prepare producers for high consequence diseases by minimizing the production, transportation, and financial impact.
• Helping protect independent and integrated producers regardless of size and type through producer-identified standards.

• Providing producers with an active role in protecting the long-term viability of the U.S. pork industry.
• Encouraging broad program engagement that provides a pathway to help streamline interstate movement and clarify standards for international trade.
• Promoting enrollment that makes producers eligible to participate in the House of Delegates and vote to define national technical standards.

Enrollment and Certification
1. Contact your Official State Agency (OSA) to get the correct forms.
2. Complete all related forms.
3. Pursue certification.

a. Being ready for certification is no necessary at the time of enrollment. Operations can be brought to compliance after enrollment and in preparation for certification.
b. Access the list of program standards on usswinehealthimprovementplan.com.

4. Stay engaged in the process.
5. Continually update information with the OSA.
6. Consider participating in the House of Delegates.