It provides a valuable opportunity. LRQA offers the BCC module as an add-on service for those who are either certified by or are in pursuit of Farm First certification.
Technical Account Manager, Agriculture, LRQA
With endorsement from the Humane League, LRQA is now authorised to offer the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) Module, marking a pivotal step in broiler chicken welfare.
Established in January 2018, the Better Chicken Commitment has quickly become a benchmark for broiler chicken welfare. Its guiding principles have since then been adopted by more than 200 food companies across Europe. With giants like Compass Group, Marks & Spencer, Kraft Heinz, KFC, and Accor leading the charge and promising to be fully compliant with BCC's standards no later than 2026. The primary goal? A more ethical, humane, and sustainable food industry that consumers can trust.
This development not only elevates the standards for broiler chicken welfare but also signifies an industry shift towards adopting humane and ethical practices in poultry farming.
We asked LRQA’s Technical Account Manager, Agriculture, James Sage, what this means for the LRQA-owned standard, Farm First. “It provides a valuable opportunity. LRQA offers the BCC module as an add-on service for those who are either certified by or are in pursuit of Farm First certification. The addition of the BCC module becomes an effortless integration that not only enhances existing certification but also opens the door to new business opportunities by allowing members to market their products under the esteemed Better Chicken Commitment label”.
The inclusion of the BCC module enables you to demonstrate your commitment to the increasing demands around animal welfare and sustainable practices, not just to your business stakeholders, but your customers too.
James continues “for consumers, the BCC label acts as an assurance of the product's compliance with elevated welfare standards. For producers and food businesses, it's a mark of distinction, setting them apart in a competitive marketplace. With the global demand for more humane farming practices on the rise, LRQA’s addition of the Better Chicken Commitment module to its offerings really shows where the industry is heading, and what businesses need to be doing in order to stay ahead of the curve”.
This approval from the Humane League, and leading European food companies symbolises a collective stride towards a more ethical and transparent food supply chain. This is more than just a label; it's a promise of a better, and more responsible future for the food industry.