About the certification
The Vegan Trademark is an international certification mark created by The Vegan Society. It has been in use since 1990 and is one of the oldest and best-known labelling systems for vegan products. It now appears on more than 70,000 products worldwide, ranging from food and cosmetics to clothing, household goods and materials.
For a product to use the Vegan Trademark, neither its manufacture nor its development may involve animal ingredients, by-products or derivatives. The assessment covers not only the main ingredients, but also other substances used during manufacture and processing.
The prohibition of animal testing is also an important part of the rules. Neither the development nor the manufacture of the product or its ingredients may involve testing conducted at the company's initiative, on its behalf or by entities over which it has effective control.
The Vegan Society also requires the risk of cross-contamination with substances of animal origin to be minimised. Manufacturers must take practical measures, such as separating ingredients, thoroughly cleaning production lines and following appropriate storage and manufacturing procedures. The Vegan Trademark is not an “allergen-free” label, and a trace amount of an allergen has a different meaning from the use of an animal ingredient as part of a formulation.
The Vegan Trademark logo therefore makes it easier for consumers to identify a product that has undergone third-party review and meets The Vegan Society's rules for vegan labelling. Certification is renewed annually to ensure that the organisation has up-to-date information about registered products.