You can apply to register via your chain manager. In many cases this is also your abattoir or egg packing centre. This company must be a certified participant. The chain manager will register you with the Better Life Label Foundation (BLLF).
The Better Life Label Foundation does not currently charge a participation fee to primary companies, however this can change in the future. Primary companies do pay the costs for the inspections and audits conducted by the CBs.
Yes. Livestock farms cannot participate in the Better Life label scheme without a certificate. If you do not have a valid certificate, you cannot deliver Better Life label eligible animals or eggs to a buyer or customer.
The Certification Bodies (CBs) that conduct your IKB audit can also conduct the (initial) BLL audit and decide whether the BLL certificate can be awarded. The Certification Bodies that perform the audits for the Better Life Label schemes are Control Union Certifications, Kiwa VERIN, SGS Netherlands, Producert and Qlip. The CB conducts an annual audit to verify if the participating farmer satisfies the criteria. If no non-conformities are found, the company will be awarded certification (again). After the annual audit, inspections to check rectifications and unannounced audits are conducted (if necessary).
The potential participant applies to become a new participant in the BLL portal. The participant can use the personal BLL login it has been given, to register a company.
When the application is submitted, an BLLF employee will review your application. Upon approval from the BLLF, the CB will be notified and will process the application. The CB will then contact you for an initial audit. If certification is granted, Better Life label products may be received/produced/delivered. A new participant is audited unannounced by the CB within 2 to 4 months of the certification decision following the initial audit.
Go to Procedure registration of companies
Any questions concerning applications to register can be sent to aanvraag@sblk.nl.
Yes. Secondary participants cannot participate in the Better Life label scheme without a certificate.
Yes. Foreign companies follow the same application procedure as Dutch companies. They are also inspected and certified annually by a CB approved by the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals.
Yes. The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals has established exclusion criteria which specify which companies or activities are not permitted under the conditions of the Better Life label scheme.
Yes. All companies that wish to participate in the Better Life label scheme are obliged to be inspected and certified annually. A valid certificate is a compulsory component of participation in the Better Life label scheme.
The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals establishes and manages the criteria.
The Better Life label (logo) may only be used on products that incorporate meat, dairy or eggs that originate from animals that have been farmed in accordance with the criteria of the Better Life label scheme.
No. The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals has established conditions that must be satisfied by Better Life products. These conditions are included in the Conditions protocol processing. This protocol can be found here.
Yes, all compounds/recipes must first be accepted by the Better Life label Foundation before they are put into production.
Yes. A number of product groups are excluded from participation in the Better Life label scheme. The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals has established conditions that specify which product groups are excluded. These conditions are included in the Conditions Protocol processors. This protocol can be found here.
Yes. New products can be registered by submitting the compounds/recipes of the product. This can be done through your personal page in the BLL portal.
No. Only consumer packaging has to be submitted.
No. Participants in the Better Life label scheme pay an annual participation fee, regardless of the number of products or species of animal. Exceptions to this are abattoirs, dairy processors and egg packing centres. They pay a variable participation fee that is based on the number of animals slaughtered, kilograms of raw milk received or the number of eggs packed.
No, if these activities are performed on one location, the participation fee will be charged once. This participation fee is charged annually.
The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals has established criteria that farmers must satisfy for each species of animal and number of stars. These criteria can be found here.
Farms or companies with too many animals in one location cannot participate. The maximum numbers of animals are stated in the exclusion criteria.
For primary participants: If you no longer wish to participate in the Better Life label scheme, notify the CB, your chain manager and your buyer/customer. Your chain manager can deregister your company by informing the BLLF via the BLL portal. After you have deregistered, you may no longer supply Better Life label eligible products.
For secondary participants: If you no longer wish to participate in the Better Life label scheme, notify the CB and the Better Life label Foundation.
This can be done in writing by contacting the Better Life Label Foundation at aanvraag@sblk.nl