Term list – Better Life label

Better Life label
The Animal Protection Society uses the Better Life label to encourage providing a better life for livestock kept for production purposes in locations such as livestock farms, slaughterhouses, processing facilities, and retailers. The better the circumstances are for the animals, the more stars the Better Life label Foundation grants. Based on the Better Life label, a consumer can determine the animal welfare quality of a product: the more stars, the more animal-friendly it is. The Better Life label consists of the Animal Protection Society logo, the text “Better Life” and one, two, or three stars.

The Better Life label is a label for the supply chain. This means that all businesses in the production chain, from the primary farm to the retail/food service provider, must comply with the label standards. In order to receive, process, or provide Better Life products, suppliers and buyers from a business must be approved by the Better Life label Foundation for the associated Better Life scope (animal type and number of stars).

Better Life product
If the Better Life label is displayed on a product, it must also be certain that the relevant product has actually been sourced from animals that have had a “Better Life” (Dutch for a “better life”). This requires that all businesses in the production chain be approved. They have also established a procedure for the separate (channelled) processing of Better Life products.
For the additional conditions that composite Better Life products must satisfy, see “Better Life product – composite”.

Better Life product – composite
Composite Better Life products largely consist of Better Life material(s) (e.g. meat or egg) and partly of non-Better Life materials (e.g. water or smoke flavour). There are additional conditions that must be met for products like these before a reference to the Better Life label can be placed on them. The primary conditions are:

A composite product only meets the framework conditions if it is approved by the Better Life label Foundation. The Better Life label Foundation assesses whether a product meets the framework conditions for Better Life products. In order to do this, a product specification (in accordance with the Better Life label Foundation format) must be provided.

Better Life scope
Better Life label participants must be approved/certified for one or more of the Better Life scopes. The Better Life scope consists of one animal type and the number of stars. For example: BLk (BL label) pork 1 star, BLk chicken 2 stars, BLk egg 3 stars, BLk beef 2 stars, BLk veal 1 star, etc. Within a production chain, all parties must be approved or certified for the associated Better Life scope.

Processor
Processing companies are locations that modify a Better Life product in such a way that (a part of) the production process results in the Better Life label no longer being an integral part of the product. Processing also includes the labelling and packaging of the product, with the exception of portioning, during which at least one original packaging remains around the product and results in the Better Life label being an integral part of the product. Processors are regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) inspected and certified by the Certification Institution based on the associated Better Live criteria. Processors include processing plants such as those for meat or eggs as well as packaging and labelling facilities.

Organic
Organic farms are certified in accordance with European organic regulations.
Skal certifies all organic production in the Netherlands. Products from organically certified farms are automatically eligible for the 3-star Better Life label. To do this, they must first register with the Better Life label Foundation. No additional Better Life inspections will be conducted: the organic certificate is sufficient.

BLk Portal
A client portal has been developed for Better Life participants. In this portal, the business information that is important for those participating in the Better Life label are recorded. In this client portal, Better Life participants can log in, after which they can review and manage the registered information. This involves the Better Life scopes (animal types and number of stars), suppliers, buyers, and products that have been approved by the Better Life label Foundation for the business.

In addition to the participants, the Better Life label Foundation (e.g. for the assessment of new requests, conducting inspections, invoicing, etc.) and the designated Certification Institution (for performing inspections and issuing certificates) can review the business information important for BL label participation.

Certificate
A certificate is written proof that the relevant business meets the applicable Better Life criteria. The certificate is issued by a Certification Institution. This is preceded by an inspection at the farm and an assessment of the results by a Certification Institution.
The certificate is issued 1x every 12 months. If it is determined that a business no longer meets the set criteria, the certificate can be revoked.

Certification regulations
The certification regulations describe how the Certification Institutions must conduct Better Life inspections and when they can grant the Better Life certificate.

Certification Institution
A Certification Institution regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) inspects whether a participant satisfies the associated Better Life criteria. Based on the inspection at the business, it will be assessed whether the business meets these criteria and whether the certificate can be issued or reissued for another year as proof of this. Certification Institutions must be recognised by the Better Life label Foundation. Certification Institutions that want to be recognised must meet the Acceptance Conditions for Certification Institutions.

Criteria
For the Better Life label, the entire production chain—from primary farm to the retail/food service providers—must be certified or approved for the relevant scope (animal type and number of stars) of the Better Life label.
For each Better Life scope, the Animal Protection Society has formulated criteria for livestock farmers and the other businesses/links in the production chain that follow.

Participant
A participant in the Better Life label is a business that has been approved/certified by the Better Life label Foundation for a specific business type (incl. livestock farm, slaughterhouse, processor, and retail provider) and a specific Better Life scope (animal type and number of stars).

The Animal Protection Society
The Animal Protection Society is the owner of the Better Life label (meaning it has the authority to confer the label) and sets the criteria that participating businesses must meet.

Food Service Provider
Food service providers are businesses that process (heat, prepare, etc.) Better Life products on location and provide them to the consumer for immediate consumption. This results in the Better Life label not being an integral part of the product for (part of) the processing. A protocol must be created for this. The protocol must state how the branches must keep Better Life products separate from non-Better Life products and the accompanying criteria must be met. The main offices and the associated locations are regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) inspected and certified by the Certification Institution based on the associated Better Life criteria. Food service providers include catering for businesses, institutions, schools and aeroplanes, fast-food restaurants, kiosks, and petrol stations.

User protocol and style manual
The style manual describes the way in which participants are permitted to use the Better Life label in communications (incl. on packaging, labels, websites, pamphlets, advertisements, and other advertising material).

Certified participant
The business types that impact the Better Life status of an animal/product must regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) be inspected and certified by the Certification Institution based on the associated Better Life criteria.
This applies to businesses such as livestock farms. These must be certified prior to providing animals/eggs with the Better Life label.
For the following businesses in the chain (slaughterhouses, egg packing centres, processors, food service providers, and retail processors), new businesses must be approved based on an administrative inspection by the Better Life label Foundation under the condition that these businesses will be inspected and certified by a Certification Institution within 3 months of being approved.

Approved participant
The Better Life label Foundation assesses businesses (with the exception of livestock farms) based on a registration form and an administrative assessment for participation in the Better Life label. If the businesses meet the conditions, then they can be approved by the Better Life label Foundation for the use of the label. On the basis of this approval, businesses can immediately begin using the Better Life label. Approval is subject to the condition that these businesses are inspected and certified by a Certification Institution within 3 months of approval.
Certain business types require approval, but not certification, because they do not conduct any processing activity. These include retailers that only sell Better Life products already packaged for the consumer and logistics service providers.

Inspections
For the preservation of the Better Life label, the following inspections are used:

Supply chain manager
A supply chain manager joins the different links within the chain with each other, from the livestock farm to the seller, as well as all the links that may exist in between.
As such, the supply chain manager is responsible for the registration and supervision of the livestock farm connected in their chain.
A supply chain manager can also fulfil different roles in the chain and may be the slaughterhouse, the processor, the egg packing centre, or an intermediary.

Cost forwarding calculation
The Better Life label Foundation forwards the costs of its activities to participants in the Better Life label. The cost forwarding calculation indicates the amount that participating businesses owe the Better Life label Foundation.
The costs of inspection at the business and the certification by the Certification Institution are charged separately.

Suppliers/customers
In order to receive, process, or provide Better Life products, the business location itself, its suppliers, and its buyers must be approved by the Better Life label Foundation for the relevant Better Life scope (animal type and number of stars).

The supplier is the business location where the Better Life label product was last physically present before it arrived at the processor. The customer is the business location where the participant physically sends the BL label product.

Logistics suppliers
Logistics service providers are parties such as shipping carriers, refrigeration facilities, order picking locations, dealers, or web shops. The following types of service providers are distinguished in the Better Life label:

2a. Logistics suppliers that are not owners of the product
The responsibility for the locations and the Better Life products lies with the owner of the products. The owner must register the locations where storage and portioning are taking place with the Better Life label Foundation.
These businesses do not require a contract with the Better Life label Foundation themselves and do not need to be inspected by a Certification Institution.

2b. Logistics suppliers that are owners of the product and physically handle the product
These locations must be approved by the Better Life label. The locations must ensure that they submit a request form and make a contract with the Better Life label Foundation. These businesses are subject to a less strict inspection regime, specifically: an initial inspection within 3 months of approval and afterwards, regular (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) reinspection in order to determine that (at least one) original packaging remains around the product, which results in the Better Life label continuing to be an integral part of the Better Life product.

2c. Logistics suppliers that are owners of the product and do not physically handle the product
These locations ship the Better Life product directly from the supplier to the buyer. The Better Life product is not physically brought to the business location. These locations must be approved for the Better Life label. The locations must ensure that they submit a request form and make a contract with the Better Life label Foundation. No inspections will be conducted.

Mass balance/cross-check
A mass balance (based on kilograms) or cross-check (based on numbers, e.g. number of pork tenderloins) must be conducted as an important tool for discovering errors. These are used to check that purchase and sale correspond with each other. A participant must regularly conduct these balances/comparisons. In doing so, the participant checks whether the number of kilograms 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 BLk stock + BLk purchases + BLk products downgraded to this number of stars

Y = BLk final stock + BLk sales + BLk products downgraded to fewer or no stars + possible residual streams/losses.

The result of the mass balance/cross-check must be zero or negative.

Multi-site certification
Multi-site certification is exclusively possible for retail and food service providers which have a main office and branches. The branches operate under the responsibility and supervision of the main office. All branches are outfitted according to the same store formula and fall under the same quality system which the main office manages. As such, the main office performs annual, internal inspections at all branches. It is exclusively the main office that receives a certificate, which contains an attachment with an overview stating the participating branches that fall under the certification of the main office.

Packing centre
At a packing centre, Better Life eggs are sorted and packaged according to the number of stars, quality, and weight for sale as fresh shell eggs or for further processing into egg products. A packing centre must have a licence in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 2 of Regulation (EC) no. 853/2004. Packing centres are regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) inspected and certified by the Certification Institution based on the associated Better Life criteria.

Processor protocol
Before approval can be granted to processors of Better Life products, the processor must submit a protocol that clearly indicates how Better Life source products, semi-finished products, and finished products must be correctly identified and visibly processed separately from non-Better Life quality products during the initial inspection, storage, processing, packaging, and delivery. The Better Life label Foundation assesses whether the business protocol provided is sufficiently adapted to the Better Life label and whether it meets the “Randvoorwaarden protocol verwerkers” (Framework conditions for processor protocol) and the associated criteria for processors.

Consultation
Before the Animal Protection Society makes definitive changes to the Better Life criteria, it will coordinate with the participating businesses via a consultation period. During the consultation period, these participants can react to the proposed changes, specifically from the standpoint of practical feasibility. Participants will be given the opportunity to respond to the proposed changes in writing. Where necessary, additional opportunities to be heard will be organised in order for participants to further explain their responses verbally.

BL label register
All approved and certified businesses are recorded in the Better Life label register. For each business, it is indicated for which business type and which Better Life scope(s) (animal type and number of stars) they have been approved/certified, and what the corresponding period of validity is. For instance, based on the register, participating businesses can check whether their relationships in the chain (suppliers and buyers) have been (or are still) approved/certified for the relevant business type and/or Better Life scope(s) (animal type and number of stars) at the time of delivery.

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

Retail
In the retail sector, Better Life products are sold that arrive pre-packaged (in consumer/end-user packaging) and are sold to the consumer unmodified. As a result, the Better Life label remains an integral part of the product.
The main office of a retail organisation/supermarket must be approved for the Better Life label. To do this, they must submit a request form and make a contract with the Better Life label Foundation. No inspections will be conducted. A logo contribution is payable if the Better Life label is actively communicated or shown on their own brand of products.

Retail provider with processor
In this category, the Better Life product is further processed in a location such as a supermarket (e.g. sliced, spiced, heated, packaged and labelled) and the Better Life label is no longer an integral part of the product for (part of) the processing. A protocol must be submitted for how the branches must keep Better Life products separate from non-Better Life products and the accompanying criteria must be met.
The main offices and the branches are regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) inspected and certified by the Certification Institution based on the associated Better Life criteria.
Retail providers with a processor include butchers, deli counters, or supermarket bakeries.

Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse (or abattoir) is a business that slaughters livestock according to the Better Life label for the relevant animal type. The animals are delivered by livestock farmers and the slaughterhouse produces whole carcasses or carcass parts.
Slaughterhouses are regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) inspected and certified by the Certification Institution based on the associated Better Life criteria.

Better Life label Foundation (SBLk)
The Better Life label Foundation (SBLk) is the private label organisation that is responsible for the proper preservation of the Better Life label (BLk) and maintains communication with the business community. The SBLk handles and assesses requests from the business community and grants approval. The SBLk also supervises external certification institutions that handle physical inspection and enforcement. The SBLk coordinates with the Animal Protection Society, which examines policy-based questions (criteria) and communicates with the consumer. The SBLk is a compact, non-profit organisation that forwards its costs to the participating business community.

Livestock farm
A livestock farm is a location where livestock (poultry, cattle, pigs, calves, rabbits) are bred and raised for the production of meat or eggs. On Better Life farms, the livestock must be kept in a manner that satisfies the Better Life criteria for the relevant animal type and number of stars (1, 2, or 3 stars). Animals used for breeding, such as gilts and boars for pigs, are currently not a part of the Better Life label and do not need to be certified.
A livestock farm cannot register for the Better Life label itself, it must be included under an existing supply chain. After that, the farm can be registered by the relevant supply chain manager. Livestock farms are regularly (in accordance with the inspection frequency as recorded in the certification regulations) inspected and certified by the Certification Institution based on the associated 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 for ‘Renovation’ within the Better Life label can therefore also be an architectural change to an existing building, an extension or a change in layout which requires an adjustment to the structure. For example, as a result of adding a covered run, 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 for ‘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) check). During the (entry) check, the time of the architectural date of completion of the buildings is checked to see whether this date pre-dates the Better Life label registration date.

Table 1. Determining the new construction/renovation date based on four possible options

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 offer (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 offer (farmer and contractor).	Date on which the offer was signed