This Privacy Policy explains how Western Hemisphere Verified LLC ("Western Hemisphere Verified™," "we," "us," or "our"), operated at americasverified.com, collects, uses, discloses, and protects information about you when you visit our website, submit a Business Verification Application, or interact with us in any way.

Please read this policy carefully. By using our website or services — including submitting a verification application, paying certification fees, or displaying the Western Hemisphere Verified™ badge — you agree to the practices described here.

1. Who We Are

Western Hemisphere Verified™ is a business certification and verification program that authenticates manufacturers, producers, artisans, and businesses whose products are genuinely made within the Western Hemisphere — encompassing North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Our services include the Business Verification Application process, annual certification renewals, the Western Hemisphere Verified™ badge and certification mark, and related business services offered through our platform and WooCommerce-powered store at americasverified.com.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

A. Information you provide directly through the Business Verification Application

• Legal business name, DBA / trade name, and business type (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLC, Corporation, Cooperative, or other)
• Year established and primary business address (street, city, state/province, ZIP/postal code, country)
• Primary phone number and business email address
• Website URL
• Federal Tax ID / EIN and business registration number
• Country of incorporation or registration
• Primary contact name, title/position, department, direct phone, and direct email
• Mailing address (if different from business address)
• Authorized signatory name and title
• Manufacturing and production facility addresses (including all facilities)
• Contract manufacturer name and country (if applicable)
• Percentage of product value produced within the Western Hemisphere
• Description of manufacturing and production processes
• Product information: product names, categories, countries of manufacture, SKU/model numbers, and hemisphere content percentages
• Primary product categories (e.g., Food & Beverage, Apparel & Textiles, Home Goods, Industrial/Manufacturing, Health & Beauty, Electronics/Tech, Agriculture, Crafts & Artisan Goods, Building Materials, Automotive Parts, Furniture)
• Selected fee tier (Artisan, Maker, Producer, Enterprise, or Multi-Brand) and chosen payment method
• Authorized signature, signature date, and certifications

B. Supporting documentation you submit

• Certificate of Incorporation or Business Registration
• Government-issued business license (current year)
• Federal Tax ID / EIN documentation
• Proof of manufacturing location (lease, deed, or utility bill)
• Supply chain documentation (bill of materials or sourcing affidavit)
• Product photos (minimum 3 per product submitted)
• Product labels and packaging showing country of origin
• Third-party lab or quality certifications (if applicable)
• Import/export records showing hemisphere-origin sourcing (if applicable)
• Letters of reference from hemisphere-based trade associations (if provided)

C. Information collected automatically

• IP address, browser type and version, operating system, and device identifiers
• Pages visited, referring URLs, time spent on pages, and click paths
• WooCommerce session data, cart activity, and order history
• Cookie identifiers and similar tracking technologies (see Section 8)

D. Information from third parties

• Payment confirmation data from our payment processor (we do not store full card numbers)
• Publicly available business registration data used to verify application information
• Information from hemisphere-based trade associations that provide references

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Processing verification applications — reviewing submitted information and documents, assigning Application IDs (e.g., WHV-XXXXXXX), and determining certification eligibility
• Conducting verification activities — document review, facility inspections, and third-party audits as authorized by applicants
• Issuing and managing certifications — approving, denying, or placing applications in pending status; issuing the Western Hemisphere Verified™ badge; and managing annual renewals
• Processing payments — handling certification fees across our four standard tiers (Artisan $149/yr, Maker $349/yr, Producer $749/yr, Enterprise $1,499/yr) and custom Multi-Brand arrangements
• Communications — sending application status updates, renewal reminders, requests for additional documentation, and responses to inquiries sent to info@americasverified.com
• Compliance and enforcement — monitoring proper badge usage, investigating complaints, revoking certification for non-compliance, and taking action against misuse of the certified mark
• Improving our services — analyzing application patterns, improving the verification process, and enhancing the applicant experience
• Legal obligations — complying with applicable laws, regulations, and lawful requests from government authorities

4. Verification & Certification Process

The Western Hemisphere Verified™ certification process involves collection and review of substantial business and manufacturing information. By submitting an application, you specifically authorize us to:

• Review all submitted documents and cross-reference them with publicly available business records
• Contact the authorized representative and/or authorized signatory listed on your application
• Conduct reasonable on-site facility verification at our sole discretion
• Engage third-party auditors to verify the accuracy of submitted information
• Maintain your application file for the duration of your certification period and for a reasonable period thereafter

Certification is valid for one (1) year from the date of approval. Annual renewals require updated documentation and payment of the applicable fee. We reserve the right to revoke certification at any time for non-compliance, misuse of the badge, or discovery of inaccurate information.

Application processing time is 10–15 business days from receipt of a complete application and payment.

5. Payment Information

Certification fees are processed through our WooCommerce-powered store. Payment methods accepted include credit/debit card (via online portal), ACH/bank transfer, check (payable to Western Hemisphere Verified LLC), and invoice (for Enterprise and Multi-Brand tiers only).

We use industry-standard payment processors to handle transactions. We do not store full payment card numbers on our servers. Payment processors we use maintain their own privacy policies governing how they handle your financial data. We encourage you to review those policies.

We retain records of transactions (amounts, dates, fee tiers selected, and payment method types) for accounting, tax, and certification recordkeeping purposes.

6. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Service providers — We share information with third-party vendors who assist us in operating our website, processing payments, conducting audits, and delivering services. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which it was shared.
• Verification partners — With your authorization, we may share application information with accredited third-party auditors or hemisphere-based trade associations for verification purposes.
• Public directory — If your application is approved, your business name, certified product categories, and certification status may be listed in a publicly accessible Verified Directory on our website. You will be notified of this listing and may request adjustments to publicly displayed information.
• Legal requirements — We may disclose information when required by law, court order, or government authority, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of Western Hemisphere Verified LLC, our users, or the public.
• Business transfers — In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our website before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

7. Badge Usage Monitoring

To protect the integrity of the Western Hemisphere Verified™ certification mark, we may monitor publicly accessible websites, marketing materials, packaging, and social media accounts of certified businesses for proper badge usage in accordance with our Badge Usage Policy.

This monitoring may be conducted through automated tools and/or manual review. It is limited to publicly available information and does not involve unauthorized access to private systems or data.

Misuse of the certified mark — including display by uncertified businesses or use inconsistent with the Badge Usage Policy — may result in enforcement action, including legal action where applicable.

8. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate and improve our services. These include:

• Essential cookies — Required for the website to function, including WooCommerce session management, shopping cart functionality, and security tokens
• Analytics cookies — Used to understand how visitors interact with our website (pages visited, time on site, traffic sources). We use this data in aggregate to improve our services.
• Preference cookies — Used to remember your settings and preferences across visits

You can control cookie settings through your browser. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality, including the ability to complete purchases or submit applications. Our website respects browser-level Do Not Track signals where technically feasible.

9. Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, including:

• Active certifications — Application files, supporting documents, and certification records are retained for the duration of your certification and for a minimum of 5 years following expiration or revocation, to support audit trails and potential disputes
• Denied applications — Retained for a minimum of 2 years from the date of denial
• Payment records — Retained for a minimum of 7 years in compliance with tax and accounting obligations
• Website analytics data — Retained in aggregate form; individually identifiable data deleted after 26 months

When data is no longer needed, we delete or anonymize it in a secure manner.

10. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access — Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction — Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion — Request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal retention obligations and certification recordkeeping requirements
• Portability — Request your information in a structured, machine-readable format
• Objection / Restriction — Object to or request restriction of certain processing activities
• Withdraw consent — Where processing is based on consent, withdraw that consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at info@americasverified.com. We will respond within 30 days of receipt. We may need to verify your identity before processing requests.

Please note that certain information may be exempt from deletion or access requests where it is required for certification recordkeeping, legal compliance, or dispute resolution.

California residents may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). EEA/UK residents may have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or UK GDPR. Contact us to learn more about the rights applicable in your jurisdiction.

11. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, or disclosure. These measures include:

• Encrypted transmission of data via HTTPS/TLS
• Access controls limiting employee access to application data on a need-to-know basis
• Secure storage of uploaded verification documents
• Use of PCI-compliant payment processors for all financial transactions
• Regular review of our security practices and infrastructure

We cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach that affects your personal information, we will notify you promptly in accordance with applicable law.

12. Children's Privacy

Western Hemisphere Verified™ is a business-to-business certification service intended exclusively for adults and business operators. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13 (or 16 where required by applicable law). If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor, please contact us immediately at info@americasverified.com and we will delete it promptly.

13. International Data Transfers

Western Hemisphere Verified™ operates across the Western Hemisphere. Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States, where our primary operations are based.

Where we transfer personal data outside your jurisdiction, we implement appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses, adequacy decisions, or equivalent protections as required by applicable law. By submitting a Business Verification Application, you acknowledge that your information may be processed in the United States and other Western Hemisphere jurisdictions for purposes of verification and certification.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our services evolve or applicable law changes. When we do, we will:

• Revise the "Effective Date" at the top of this page
• Update the version number
• For material changes, provide additional notice — such as an email notification to certified businesses or a prominent banner on our website

Your continued use of our website or services after the effective date of any update constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us: