Beter Leven: the Dutch Model for Animal Welfare
Guest post by Manuel Navarreta, ESG & Sustainability Specialist at Uyolo SRL
Across Europe, there are many voluntary schemes for certifying animal welfare, but few have had the same impact as the Beter Leven keurmerk (BLk) – literally “Better Life.” Created in 2007 by the Dierenbescherming, the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals, the program stands out because it evaluates the entire production chain—from farming to slaughtering and packaging. Each stage must meet precise standards to display the logo, ensuring consistency between what the label promises and what actually happens within farms and facilities.
For consumers, the message is simple: a one-to-three-star rating system, where each additional star corresponds to higher animal welfare standards. It’s an immediate, transparent, and easy-to-understand scale that has made the label one of the most recognized in the Netherlands. Today, most meat products on Dutch supermarket shelves display at least one BLk star.
From niche to norm: the success of the star scale
Just over a decade after its launch, Beter Leven has evolved from a pioneering initiative to a national benchmark model. In 2021, around 16 million animals were raised under BLk standards—nine times more than in 2012. This growth is due in part to its scalability: the “one-star” level is an accessible entry point for many farmers, acting as a gateway to more sustainable practices.
According to research by Wageningen University & Research, all fresh pork sold through Dutch supermarkets now meets at least the one-star standard, effectively turning BLk’s minimum level into a market baseline. Behind every star lie not just rules but measurable indicators of space, lighting, grazing access, density, and animal behavior. Compliance is verified annually by independent, accredited certification bodies, ensuring transparency and rigor throughout the process.
Inside the system: how Beter Leven works
BLk’s strength lies in the technical precision of its requirements. Each certification level sets measurable parameters across three key dimensions: grazing, housing, and stocking density.
For beef cattle, pasture access is one of the most important criteria.
- One star: at least 8 hours per day for 150 days per year, or 24 hours per day for 115 days.
- Two stars: 12 hours for 180 days, or 24 hours for 135 days.
- Three stars: 12 hours for 210 days, or 24 hours for 160 days.
Any exception must be justified and documented, making the system fully traceable.
During non-grazing periods, indoor comfort becomes crucial. A 550-kg animal must have at least 4.6 m² at one star, 5.6 m² at two stars, and 6.5 m² at three stars. BLk also requires comfortable flooring, a minimum of 50 lux lighting for inspection, and natural or mechanical ventilation to ensure clean air and optimal microclimate conditions. Inspectors verify the absence of eye or respiratory irritation and, if needed, perform objective air quality measurements.
Stocking density is also strictly regulated: no more than 10 animals per hectare at one star, 7 at two stars, and 6.5 at three stars. When grazing occurs in natural areas, what matters most is the actual food availability and the obligation to provide adequate shelter for all animals.
A distinctive feature of BLk is its management of painful procedures such as dehorning and castration, which are only permitted when accompanied by documented anesthesia and post-operative analgesia from the farm veterinarian. At the three-star level, transport distances are also limited (up to 850 km for fattening and 280 km for slaughter), and the use of electric prods is strictly prohibited. These measures aim to minimize stress and ensure respectful transport conditions.
A system aligned with European science
The Beter Leven model is fully aligned with the scientific recommendations of EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority. The latest EFSA opinion (2025) identifies key welfare factors for cattle, including adequate space for movement and rest, continuous access to drinking water, ventilation and natural light, and stable group management to avoid conflicts.
All of these aspects are already embedded in the BLk system, which progressively increases grazing time, reduces animal density, improves air and ground quality, and limits transport distances. Even clinical practices follow EFSA’s approach: any painful intervention must involve anesthesia and analgesia, anticipating future EU standards on animal pain management.
In essence, BLk is more than just a label—it’s a practical translation of scientific evidence into measurable welfare criteria. This makes it one of the most advanced and credible schemes in Europe.
Transparency: the next frontier
One area where Beter Leven continues to evolve is data transparency. Making audit results and inspection summaries publicly available—even in aggregate form—would strengthen consumer trust and make it easier to compare certified farms. A dashboard of common indicators would help clarify how much improvement each star actually represents and assist farmers in planning their sustainability investments.
Another challenge lies in cross-species comparability. Currently, the criteria distinguishing one, two, and three stars vary between poultry, pigs, and cattle. An official matrix with key requirements across species would make the system even clearer and more coherent. This kind of openness is exactly what the European Union is now encouraging in its environmental and welfare labeling initiatives.
From certification to a culture of welfare
The BLk experience demonstrates that a certification system should not be just marketing, but can serve as a true framework for continuous improvement. The Dutch model combines solid, measurable technical standards, independent verification, and consumer transparency. This combination reduces the risk of “empty labels” and strengthens public trust.
The fact that ownership of the label remains with the promoting organization, while verification is performed by third-party certifiers, ensures a clear separation of roles—a key element for credibility and accountability.
Looking ahead: the next challenges
Despite its success, Beter Leven continues to refine its model. Among its future priorities are more in-depth multisite audits based on objective welfare indicators, clearer guidelines on analgesic use, management of heat stress and ventilation, and species-specific summaries showing what concretely changes between one and three stars in terms of animal welfare outcomes. These are not radical reforms but rather targeted refinements that will help maintain BLk’s leadership in animal welfare across Europe.
Conclusions
Beter Leven stands as a model of shared responsibility among producers, certifiers, and consumers. Its strength lies in translating technical concepts—like density, grazing, and microclimate—into tangible, verifiable guarantees.
Each BLk star represents a measurable step forward in animal welfare and a move toward more ethical and informed consumption. In a Europe increasingly focused on the link between food production and sustainability, the Dutch Beter Leven experience shows how transparency and science can coexist within a label that genuinely transforms the way we farm, certify, and buy animal products.
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