Certification Better Life (Beter Leven) quality label

What is the Better Life label?

The Better Life label is an initiative of the Dutch society for the protection of animals and focuses on improving animal welfare in livestock farming. It provides consumers and buyers with insight into the living conditions of animals within the production chain. The core of the label is its star rating system:

• 1 star: improved animal welfare conditions compared to conventional production
• 2 stars: further improvements, often including outdoor access
• 3 stars: very high level of animal welfare, comparable to organic standards

The label is applied to products such as meat, eggs and dairy products.

Chain approach and certification

The Better Life label is a chain certification scheme. This means that all links in the supply chain must comply with the requirements:

• Primary producers (livestock farmers)
• Transport and logistics
• Slaughterhouses and cutting plants
• Processing industry
• Retail organisations

Kiwa VERIN independently verifies compliance with these requirements and provides certification of animal welfare throughout the chain.

Application for certification

Participation in the Better Life Label is organised through the Better Life Foundation. Livestock farmers typically apply via a chain coordinator, such as:

• Egg packing stations
• Slaughterhouses
• Cutting plants
• Meat processors

Once the Better Life Foundation (Dutch: Stichting Beter Leven) has approved the application, Kiwa can schedule the certification audit.

Certification process by Kiwa

During the audit, Kiwa VERIN assesses whether your organisation complies with the criteria of the Better Life Label. This includes, among other things:

• Compliance with animal welfare requirements
• Embedding within the quality system
• Chain agreements and traceability

After a positive assessment, you will receive a certificate allowing you to use the Better Life label.

Integration with existing quality systems

For primary producers, participation in an approved private quality system, such as IKB, is an important requirement for joining the Better Life label scheme. Kiwa designs audits efficiently by conducting combined inspections wherever possible. This reduces audit burdens and increases efficiency within the chain. Multiple schemes may be assessed in a single visit, such as:

• IKB
• Pork of Tomorrow (Dutch: Varken van Morgen)
• KAT

Registers and criteria

• Click here for the criteria for the various quality marks/labels.
• Click here for the register of primary companies (Dutch). 
• Click here for the register of slaughterhouses, packing stations, cutting plants, retail and processing sectors (Dutch).

Why Kiwa VERIN?

Kiwa VERIN is an independent certification body with extensive experience in food chain and animal welfare certification. We combine technical expertise with efficient audit processes, ensuring that you can demonstrably comply with the requirements of the Better Life Label.