Processors in the supermarket

The Better Life Label Foundation (BLLF) is revising its criteria for secundary participants.

This means we have made a number of adjustments:

• Modular structure of the criteria with less overlapping criteria for different company types;
• No additional lists with supplementary decisions and interpretations;
• Better alignment with the ISO standards for quality systems;
• Sanctions in accordance with international standards.

The Modular structure also makes it possible to request one overview with all the criteria that have to be met, in case a business has several company types.

The revised criteria will take effect from 1 september 2023. Click here to view the revised criteria.

In the scope of retail with a processing counter, the Better Life label product is further processed in a supermarket (e.g., sliced, seasoned, heated, packed and labelled) whereby during (part of) the processing the Better Life label is no longer an inseparable and integral part of the product. For this purpose, a protocol should be drawn up describing how the branches separate Better Life label products from non Better Life label products and how to comply with the associated criteria.

The head office and branches/locations are regularly audited and certified (according to the audit frequency as established in the certification regulations) by a Certification Body on the basis of the corresponding Better Life criteria.

Retail with a processing counter includes a butchery, delicatessen department or a bakery in a supermarket.

Following the conclusive formal adoption of these criteria, the supplementary decisions and interpretations below have been drafted in conjunction with the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals. These decisions/interpretations have not yet been formally adopted and, in the event of exceptional circumstances, are subject to change before being included in the established BLL criteria. In anticipation thereof, certification will be carried out on the basis of these supplementary decisions and interpretations.

• Supplementary decisions and interpretations retail with a processing counter

The latest versions of these documents can be found on the Regulations page:

• User protocol and style manual
• Conditions protocol for processors