Glossary BLLF

Better Life label
The Better Life label is used by the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals to promote providing a better life for livestock reared for production purposes. In addition to farms, abattoirs, processors and retailers can join the scheme. The better the conditions for the livestock, the higher the number of stars awarded by the Better Life label. Consumers can use the Better Life label as a measure of animal-welfare, the higher the number of stars, the more animal-friendly the product,  The Better Life label consists of the logo of the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals, the text “Better Life” and one, two, or three stars.

The Better Life label is a label for all the links in the production supply chain. This means that all the companies in the production chain, from primary producers to retail/food service, must participate in the label. To receive, process and/or deliver Better Life products, the suppliers and customers of a company must have been approved by the Better Life Label Foundation for the corresponding Better Life scope (species of animal and number of stars).

Better Life product
If a product displays the Better Life label, it must also be possible to demonstrate that the relevant product was actually sourced from animals that had a “Better Life”. This requires all companies in the production supply chain to be inspected and approved. These companies must also establish a procedure that safeguards separate processing of Better Life products. ‘Better Life product – compound’ states the additional conditions that compound Better Life products must comply with.

Better life product – compound
Compound Better Life products largely consist of Better Life raw material(s) (e.g. meat or eggs) and partly of non-Better Life raw materials (e.g. water or smoke flavour). These products must comply with additional conditions before any reference to the Better Life label can be stated. The main criteria are:

A compound product only complies with the conditions if it has been approved by the Better Life Label Foundation. The Better Life Label Foundation assesses whether a product complies with the conditions for Better Life products.  A product specification (according to the Beter Life label format) must be provided for this purpose.

Better Life scope
Better Life label participants must be approved/certified for one or more of the Better Life scopes.  The Better Life scope is one species of animal and the number of stars. For example: BLL pigs 1 star, BLL chicken 2 stars, BLL eggs 3 stars, BLL beef cattle 1 star, BLL calves 1 star etc. All links in a production supply chain must be approved or certified for the corresponding Better Life scope.

Processor
Processors are sites that process a Better Life label product whereby during (part of) the production process the Better Life label is no longer an inseparable and integral part of the product. Processing also includes labelling and packing the product, with the exception of re-portioning, whereby at least one original packaging remains intact around the product so the Better Life label remains an inseparable and integral part of the product. Processors are regularly audited and certified (according to the inspection frequency as established in the certification regulations) by a Certification Body on the basis of the corresponding Better Life criteria. Processors include cutting plants, egg-breaking plants and egg-pasteurising plants, as well as egg packers and labellers.

BLL portal
A portal has been developed for Better Life participants. This portal registers all the information about the company that is relevant for their participation in the Better Life label scheme. Beter Life participants can log in, access and manage the information on this portal, including the Better Life scopes (species of animal and number of stars), suppliers, customers and their products that have been approved by the Better Life Label Foundation.
In addition to the participants, the Better Life Label Foundation can access the information relevant for participation in the BLL. This includes for the purposes of assessing new requests, performing inspections and sending invoices. The designated Certification Body can also access this information, for the purposes of performing inspections and issuing certificates.

Certificate
A certificate is written evidence that the company concerned complies with the applicable Better Life criteria. The certificate is issued by a Certification Body. Before a certificate is issued, the company is inspected and the results of the inspection are assessed by a Certification Body.

Certification regulations
The certification regulations describe how inspections should be performed by Certification Bodies and in which cases the Better Life certificate can be awarded.

Certification Body (CB)
A Certification Body regularly inspects (in accordance with the inspection frequency as established in the certification regulations) the continued compliance of a participant with the corresponding Better Life criteria. The company’s continued compliance with the criteria is assessed based on this inspection. Certification Bodies must be accredited by the Better Life Label Foundation. Certification Bodies wishing to be accredited must comply with the Acceptance Conditions for Certification Bodies.

Criteria
Under the conditions of the Better Life label, the entire production chain from primary participant to retail/food service, must be certified or approved for the relevant scope (species of animal and number of stars) of the Better Life label.
The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals has formulated criteria for livestock farmers and the successive companies/links in the production chain for each Better Life label scope.

Participant
A participant in the Better Life label scheme is a company that has been certified or approved by the Better Life Label Foundation for a certain type of company (e.g. livestock farm, abattoir, processor and retail) and a certain Better Life scope (species of animal and number of stars).

The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals
The Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals is the owner (scheme holder) of the Better Life label. In this capacity it establishes the criteria relating to animal welfare which must be complied with by the participating companies.

Food service
Food service includes companies that process (heat, prepare, etc.) Better Life label products on location and offer them to consumers for immediate consumption. During (a part of) this process, the Better Life label is no longer an inseparable and integral part of the product. A protocol must be drawn up for this purpose, describing how the branches separate Better Life label products from non-Better Life label products. The associated criteria must be complied with. The head office and corresponding branches/locations are regularly inspected and certified (according to the inspection frequency as established in the certification regulations) by a Certification Body on the basis of the corresponding Better Life criteria. Food service includes catering for companies, institutions, schools and airlines, fast food restaurants, kiosks and petrol stations.

User protocol and style guide
The style guide describes the way in which participants are permitted to use the Better Life label in communication items (e.g. on packaging, labels, websites, leaflets, advertisements and other promotional material).

Certified participant
The company types that influence the Better Life status of an animal/product must be inspected regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency stipulated in the certification regulations) and certified by the Certification Body based on the applicable Better Life criteria. This applies to companies including livestock farms, which must be certified before they are permitted to supply animals/eggs with the Better Life label.
New companies that are part of the subsequent links in the supply chain (abattoirs, egg-packing centres, processors, food service and retail) must first be approved based on an administrative inspection by the Better Life Label Foundation. The Certification Body can them perform an entry audit, after which the Certification Body may decide to certify the company for the Better Life label. 

Approved participant
The Better Life Label Foundation assesses companies for participation in the Better Life label based on a registration form. If the companies comply with conditions, they can be approved by the Better Life Label Foundation to use the label. After the BLLF has given its approval, the participant can be certified by the Certification Body.

Certain types of company are only approved. They do not require a certificate because they do not perform any processing activities. This includes retailers that only sell Better Life products in consumer packaging and logistic service providers 2c.

Inspections
The following inspections are performed to safeguard compliance with the Better Life label conditions:

Chain manager
A chain manager is the legal entity that registers livestock farms (Primary Participants) for certification with the Better Life Label Foundation. A chain manager may be an abattoir, packing centre, processor, egg packing centre or an intermediary organisation (broker, intermediary). Chain managers are a separate group of Participants in addition to the Primary and Secondary participants.

Participation fee
The Better Life Label Foundation charges the costs of its activities to the participants in the Better Life label scheme. The participation fee indicates which contribution the participating companies must pay the Better Life Label Foundation.
The costs of the inspections on site are invoiced separately by the Certification Body.

Suppliers/customers
To receive, process and/or deliver Better Life products, the suppliers and customers of a company must have been certified by the Better Life Label Foundation for the relevant Better Life scope (species of animal and number of stars)

The supplier is the business location where the BLL product was last physically present before the Better Life products arrive at the processor. The customer/buyer is the business location to which the participant physically sends the BLL product.

Logistic service providers
Logistic service providers are parties such as transport companies, cold-storage facilities, order pick locations, traders or web shops. The Better Life label distinguishes between the following categories of logistic service providers:

2a. Logistic service providers that are not owners of the product
The owner of the products is responsible for the locations and these Better Life products. The owner must register the locations where storage and re-portioning takes place with the Better Life Label Foundation. These companies do not need to have a contract with the Better Life Label Foundation and do not need to be inspected by a Certification Body.

2b. Logistic service providers that are owners of the product and physically handle the product
These locations must be approved by the Better Life label. The locations must submit an application form and conclude a contract with the Better Life Label Foundation. These companies are subject to a more lenient inspection scheme. The (at least one) original packaging remains around the product, which results in the Better Life label continuing to form an inseparable and integral part of the Better Life product.

2c. Logistic service providers that are owners of the product and do not physically handle the product
These locations send the Better Life product directly from the supplier to the buyer or customer. The Better Life product is not physically received at the company location. These locations must be approved for the Better Life label. The locations must submit an application form and conclude a contract with the Better Life Foundation. No inspections are performed.

Mass balance/cross-check
Performing a mass balance (based on kilograms) or cross-check (based on numbers, e.g. number of pork tenderloins) is an important tool to identify errors. This method is used to verify whether purchases and sales correspond. Participants must perform a mass balance/cross-check regularly to verify whether the number of kilograms received or supplied of the Better Life product is greater than or equal to the number of kilograms of the Better Life product delivered.

The mass balance/cross-check is generally calculated as follows: (Y – X) / X * 100%
X = initial BLL stock + purchased BLL + BLL product downgraded to this number of stars
Y = final BLL stock + sales of BLL + BLL product downgraded to fewer or no stars + residual flows/loss.
The outcome of the cross-check/mass balance should be zero or negative.

Multi-site certification
Multi-site certification is only possible for retail and food service providers that have a head office and branches. The branches operate under the responsibility and supervision of the head office. All the branches are organised in accordance with the shop formula and are subject to the same quality assurance system, which is managed from the head office. The head office performs the internal audits at all branches annually. Only the head office is issued with a certificate with a list of the branches covered by the certificate of the head office in the appendix.

Packing centre
At an egg packing centre Better Life eggs are graded and packed according to the number of stars, quality and weight for sale as fresh table eggs or for further processing into egg products. A packing centre must have a permit in accordance with Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. Packing centres are regularly inspected and certified (according to the inspection frequency as established in the certification regulations) by a Certification Body on the basis of the corresponding Better Life criteria.

Processor protocol
Before approval can be granted to processors of Better Life products, the processor must submit a protocol (process) that clearly explains how Better Life raw materials, semi-finished products and end products are correctly identified and visibly separated from non-Better Life eligible products during receipt, storage, processing, packaging and delivery.

Consultation
Before the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals definitively adopts any amendments to the Better Life criteria, it consults the relevant participating companies. This consultation gives these participants the opportunity to respond to the proposed amendments, particularly from the perspective of feasibility in practice. Participants are given the opportunity to respond in writing to the proposed amendments. Where necessary, a hearing can be organised to enable participants to explain their responses in more detail verbally.

BLL register
The publicly accessible BLL register lists all companies that have received Approval from the BLLF and that have been issued with a valid Certificate by an approved CB. The BLLF maintains the register and processes the certification data as provided by the CBs. The BLLF publishes the publicly accessible register on its website.

Regulations for use and monitoring of the Better Life label
These regulations include the conditions under which the right to use the collective logo is awarded. These regulations apply to all participants in the Better Life label scheme.

Retail
Within the scope of retail, pre-packed Better Life label products (in consumer/end packaging) are supplied and resold to the consumer in unchanged form. The Better Life label therefore remains an inseparable and integral part of the product.

The head office of a retail organisation/supermarket must be approved for the Better Life label. To warrant approval, they must submit an application form to and conclude a contract with the Better Life Label Foundation. No audits are performed. However, a fee will be due for the use of the logo if the Better Life label is actively communicated or displayed on its own brand of products.

Retail with a processing counter
 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. A protocol must be drawn up for this purpose, describing how the branches separate Better Life label products from non-Better Life label products. The associated criteria must be complied with.

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.

Abattoir
An abattoir (slaughterhouse or abattoir) is a company that slaughters livestock in compliance with the criteria of the Better Life label for the species concerned. The animals are supplied by livestock farmers and the abattoir produces whole carcasses or carcass parts.

Abattoirs are regularly audited and certified (according to the inspection frequency as established in the certification regulations) by a Certification Body on the basis of the corresponding Better Life criteria.

Better Life Label Foundation (BLLF)
The Better Life Label Foundation (BLLF) is the private certification organisation responsible for correctly assuring the Better Life label (BLL) and for communication with the companies in the sector. The BLLF processes and assesses the applications submitted by participants and grants approval. The BLLF also monitors the external certification bodies that perform the physical inspections and enforce compliance. The BLLF is a compact, non-profit organisation that passes on its costs in the form of a participation fee to the participating companies.

Livestock farm
A livestock farm is a location where livestock (poultry, cattle, pigs, calves, rabbits) are bred and kept for the purpose of meat or egg production. On Better Life farms, the livestock must be kept in a manner that complies with the Better Life criteria for the relevant species of animal and number of stars (1, 2, or 3 stars). Animals used for breeding, such parent stock for poultry and gilts and boars for pigs, are not currently part of the Better Life label and do not need to be certified.

Livestock farms cannot apply to register for the Better Life label independently, but must affiliate with an existing supply chain. The farm can subsequently be registered by the relevant chain manager. Livestock farms are regularly audited and certified (according to the inspection frequency as established in the certification regulations) by a Certification Body on the basis of the corresponding Better Life criteria.

Renovation/new construction/existing build:

Renovation: According to the Explanatory Memorandum to the 2012 Buildings Decree, ‘renovation’ is the complete or partial renewal, alteration or enlargement of a structure. The definition of ‘Renovation’ within the Better Life label can therefore also be an architectural change to an existing building, an extension or a change in layout. For example, as a result of adding a covered run, installing platforms, changing animal category etc. Criteria for renovation may be limited to the refurbished area of the farm. For example, an internal renovation, such as replacing ventilation systems, does not necessarily need to involve an enlargement as well, such as installing a raised roof.

New construction: According to the Explanatory Memorandum to the 2012 Buildings Decree, ‘new construction’ includes all buildings built entirely new during participation in the Better Life label scheme.

Date of new construction/renovation: The definition of ‘date of new construction/renovation’ is the date on which permission or approval was requested or issued for the new construction/renovation plans. There are four options to demonstrate new construction/renovation, which are shown in Table 1.

Existing build: As described in Buildings Decree 2012. Within the Better Life label scheme, the term ‘existing build’ is taken to mean: buildings as present at the time of registration for participation in the Better Life label scheme (determined during (entry) inspection). During the (entry) inspection, the time of the architectural date of completion of the buildings is verified to see whether this date pre-dates the Better Life label registration date.

Options for demonstrating new construction/renovation (EITHER/OR)	Determining new construction/renovation date
A copy of the environmental permit application. A confirmation of receipt from the municipality must be enclosed.	Date on which the application was submitted to the municipality
A digital copy of the environmental permit granted.	Date on which the permit was granted
A copy of the notification to the municipality under the Environmental Act. A signed quotation (farmer and contractor).	Date on which the notification was submitted to the municipality
A reasoned substantiation why the application for an environmental permit or notification under the current environmental law is not applicable. A signed quotation (farmer and contractor).	Date on which the quotation was signed