Coffeeshop
Quality Mark
Independent certification that makes a coffeeshop's entire operations verifiable — managed by Stichting CVIP and developed together with government, banks and knowledge institutes.
The Coffeeshop Quality Mark is the independent quality mark for coffeeshops in the Netherlands, managed by Stichting CVIP. An independent certification body assesses against the Sector Standard (BRL CVIP) and the AHOJGI+ criteria. With the quality mark, you say what you do and you do what you say.
Our position: Demonstrable self-regulation through an independently audited quality mark is a better instrument for municipal control than limiting the number of coffeeshops.
Registering your coffeeshop for assessment? The quality mark page sets out the Sector Standard (BRL CVIP), the seven quality criteria and the button to register directly at coffeeshopkeurmerk.com.
Go to the quality mark pageIndependent governance, separate from the trade association.
Recorded norms that a certified coffeeshop must meet.
Norms, certification and independent oversight.
Certification and recertification run via independent audits.
Jump to
What & why
The certification in brief and how it came about.
Content & execution
The BRL criteria, CVIP governance and the certification process.
The Coffeeshop Quality Mark is a process certificate from Stichting CVIP (Cannabis Sales and Information Point) that makes a coffeeshop's entire operations transparent and verifiable. It is based on the CVIP Sector Standard (BRL) with 18 assessment domains — from AHOJGI+ and the Wwft to professional competence, audits and sanctions — assessed by an independent external certification body.
The standard builds on foundations laid in 2007 and was developed over more than five years in close cooperation with the ministries of Finance, Health, and Justice and Security, De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), the Dutch Banking Association (NVB), individual banks, the Trimbos Institute, municipalities and the Bond van Cannabis Detaillisten (BCD).
The quality mark thereby functions as a mitigating measure in banks' customer due diligence, as a basis for municipalities in licensing and enforcement, and as a professionalisation framework for the transition from tolerance to regulation after the closed coffeeshop chain experiment.
Frequently asked questions about the coffeeshop quality mark
- What is the coffeeshop quality mark (CVIP)?
- The Coffeeshop Quality Mark is the independent quality mark for coffeeshops in the Netherlands, managed by Stichting CVIP. An independent certification body assesses against the Sector Standard (BRL CVIP) and the AHOJGI+ criteria. With the quality mark, you say what you do and you do what you say.
- Who is behind the quality mark?
- The quality mark is an initiative of the coffeeshop sector itself — supported by the Coffeeshopbond (BCD) — and is independently assessed.
- What does a quality mark deliver for a coffeeshop?
- Demonstrable quality towards the municipality, mayor and local residents, a structured internal policy on prevention and safety, and a stronger position in discussions about licensing and enforcement.
- How does a coffeeshop take part?
- Coffeeshops can register via coffeeshopkeurmerk.com. After an intake, an independent audit follows against the CVIP criteria.
Sources
- Stichting CVIPOwn website of the standard-setter: assessment guideline and certification process
- BCD-publicatie Coffeeshop KeurmerkExplanation of standards, certification and supervisionNo direct source link included yet
- Ministerie van Financiën, 17 mei 2023 — Bijlage 3: Overzicht sectoren toegang betalingsverkeerMinistry of Finance, 17 May 2023: a quality mark is listed as a solution the coffeeshop sector is considering to possibly simplify customer due diligence; the sector, NVB, DNB and Finance will assess whether it is adequate (exploratory phase). Location: PDF page 2, row Coffeeshops, right-hand column
- Ministerie van Financiën, 23 april 2024 — Overzicht sectoren toegang betalingsverkeerMinistry of Finance, 23 April 2024: states that the sector is working on a quality mark and that the NVB, together with banks, has provided input for its development. Location: PDF page 3, row Coffeeshops, right-hand column
Related dossiers
Cite this page: https://coffeeshopbond.nl/en/publicaties/coffeeshop-keurmerk
Sources and presentation updated: 27 September 2026.