About BKD

Since 1923, the inspection of flower bulbs has been the core task of the foundation that is the BKD (the Bloembollenkeuringsdienst / the Flower Bulb Inspection Service). We perform this work for both quality defects and quarantine defects such as pathogens. We carry out quality inspections and import & export inspections on behalf of the NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority), as well as laboratory research.

The BKD supports market access by inspecting flower bulbs up to a leading level of quality and provides national and international guarantees for the quality of flower bulbs. We carry out these inspections independently, trustworthy and efficiently, which makes us an important link in the quality assurance chain for both the businesses themselves and for the flower-bulb sector as a whole.

The BKD is an NDPB (non-departmental public body) and carries out its statutory duties by order of and under the supervision of the Dutch LVVN Ministry.

The BKD is your ‘link to quality’, i.e. your link in the quality assurance chain. Our integrity and our professional skills help to make the BKD the respectable and trusted partner within the bulb sector.

Our integrity and our professional skills help to make the BKD the respectable and trusted partner within the bulb sector. Our three core values of quality, integrity and reliability are deeply embedded within our organisation and serve as the starting point for everything we do. They represent our experience, expertise and professional skills in the field of flower-bulb inspection, as well as our independent and responsible attitude that is a prerequisite for the role we play as an authoritative body. They also stand for our commitment to the sector, which we are an integral part of.

The flower bulb sector is changing rapidly. International requirements are becoming stricter, digital systems must be more secure, and laws and regulations are growing increasingly complex. That is why BKD commissioned an independent study by the Galan Group. The main conclusion: BKD needs to become more robust to face these challenges. Based on the results of the study, BKD—together with its board and sector council—is developing a strategic plan. Our mission and vision remain unchanged, but in the coming five years we will focus on:

1. Accelerating the introduction of accreditations and risk‑based inspections, allowing us to work more targeted and efficiently.
2. ICT and digital security, so we can streamline our systems and ensure that both our data and yours remain safe.
3. Communication about BKD’s role in the sector: what falls within our responsibilities, what does not, and what you can expect from us.
4. Strengthening our financial position, to ensure a stable foundation and better resilience against risks.
5. Broadening cooperation with other inspection services to work together more efficiently (for example with point 2).
6. Training and developing our staff, so colleagues can be deployed more flexibly across different tasks, including during peak periods.
7. Transitioning from ELISA to PCR for laboratory testing. We are exploring the possibilities and expect to start transitioning tests in the coming years.

The BKD is working hard to carry out its duties with CSR (corporate social responsibility). Since 2014, we have been in possession of a self-declared CSR and in doing so are complying with the NEN-ISO 26000:2012 guideline.