Consultation on Slaughterhouse criteria – 20 June to 1 August 2025
The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals (Dierenbescherming) is proposing several clarifications to the slaughterhouse criteria under the Better Life label. These clarifications aim to explicitly state whether specific criteria apply to all animals being slaughtered or only to those certified under the Better Life label (BLk). The goal is to enhance the clarity, enforceability, and practical implementation of the criteria for both participants and certification bodies.
As these revisions go beyond the mere implementation of previously agreed decisions, the updated draft criteria are being submitted for public consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Draft Revised Criteria
The revised draft criteria can be accessed via the following link:
Main Changes at a Glance
- Clarification of scope: Each criterion now clearly indicates whether it applies to all animals or only to BLk-certified animals. This helps to avoid misinterpretation in practice.
- Harmonization: The updates contribute to greater consistency across different types of slaughterhouses.
These proposed clarifications are not expected to affect current practices within slaughterhouses.
Consultation Procedure
From 20 June to 1 august 2025, BLk participants and other stakeholders are invited to submit written feedback on the proposed revisions. Responses should be sent to info@sblk.nl, quoting “Consultation BLk in the Slaughterhouse”, and preferably using the provided response format.
All submitted feedback will be carefully reviewed and may lead to further refinement of the criteria before final approval. Once adopted, the final version of the criteria will be published on the website of the Better Life label Foundation. In accordance with the standard procedure, the revised criteria will come into force three months after publication.