Introduction to Vegan Product Certification

Vegan Society(UK)

The Vegan Society is a non-profit organization founded in November 1944 by its founder Donald Watson and 6 founding members. It is the organization that invented the new vegetarian concept and created the word ‘vegan’, and is the oldest vegan organization in the world.

As the world’s oldest and most original vegan organization, the Vegan Society founded an international vegan trademark in 1990 to improve product labeling. They have been registering our products around the world for 29 years and the vegan trademark can be found on over 35,000 products worldwide.

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  Vegan Trademark

  In 1990, the Vegan Society established International Vegan Trademark to improve the labeling of vegan products. It is known as the most trusted international vegan mark because it allows trademarks on products that have passed strict standards and meticulous auditing. For 29 years, the Vegan Society have registered products around the world and you can find the vegan trademark on over 35,000 products worldwide.

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  Product Registration Criteria

  Animal ingredients

  The manufacture and/or development of the product, and where applicable its ingredients, must not involve, or have involved, the use of any animal product, by-product or derivative.

  Animal testing

  The development and/or manufacture of the product, and where applicable its ingredients, must not involve, or have involved, testing of any sort on animals conducted at the initiative of the company or on its behalf, or by parties over whom the company has effective control.

  Cross-contamination

  Potential cross-contamination of animal-derived ingredients should be avoided as much as possible. Vegan production lines require thorough cleaning of minimal surfaces and equipment prior to use. Recognizing the risk of cross-contamination by non-vegan raw materials in the production space, and taking all reasonable and practical steps to eliminate it. If you are producing vegan and non-vegan in the same space, it is strongly recommended to start with the non-vegan line.

  Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s)

  The development and/or production of genetically modified organisms (GMO) must not have involved animal genes or animal-derived substances. Products put forward for registration which contain or may contain any GMOs must be labelled as such.

  ※ Animal refers to the entire animal kingdom, that is all vertebrates and all multicellular invertebrates.

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  Benefits of choosing Vegan Trademark

  • 1. The oldest and most trusted vegan organization.
  • 2. We have a professional team for evaluation of vegan product registration.
  • 3. Vegan Trademark is easier to identify internationally by consumers.
  • 4. Vegan Trademark logo assures consumers that a product meets their ethical standards.
  • 5. Upon registration, customers can receive benefits such as using logos on packaging, marketing materials, and online.
  • 6. Product updates and additions are included in the fee and there is no additional charge during the registration period.
  • 7. Customers can provide samples to exhibits attended by The Vegan Society.
  • 8. Currently more than 35,000 products are registered in the trademark.

Introduction to Vegan Product Certification

Food & Restaurant

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  The importance of vegan certification

  Vegan certification is a certification given as a standard for not using or using animal-derived raw materials, managing cross-contamination, and not conducting animal tests on products. Vegan Trademark has gone through a rigorous certification process, saving consumers the hassle of checking the detailed raw materials, and making it easier to select vegan products. Producers who manufacture products can also help increase profits by confidently promoting the vegan products they manufacture and rethinking the reliability of their products.

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  Vegan Trademark Registration Criteria

  ✤ Animal Ingredients

  The manufacture and/or development of the product, and where applicable its ingredients, must not involve, or have involved, the use of any animal product, by-product or derivative.

  ✤ Animal Testing

  The development and/or manufacture of the product, and where applicable its ingredients, must not involve, or have involved, testing of any sort on animals conducted at the initiative of the company or on its behalf, or by parties over whom the company has effective control.

  ✤ Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

  The development and/or production of genetically modified organisms (GMO) must not have involved animal genes or animal-derived substances. Products put forward for registration which contain or may contain any GMOs must be labelled as such.

  ✤ Cross Contamination with Non-vegan

  Potential cross-contamination of animal-derived ingredients should be avoided as much as possible. Vegan production lines require thorough cleaning of minimal surfaces and equipment prior to use. Recognizing the risk of cross-contamination by non-vegan raw materials in the production space, and taking all reasonable and practical steps to eliminate it. If you are producing vegan and non-vegan in the same space, it is strongly recommended to start with the non-vegan line.

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  Vegan Trademark Registration Procedure

  ✤ Process

  Consultation ➜ Providing quotation ➜ Application acceptance ➜ Payment in full ➜ Document review ➜ Contact signing ➜ Certificate issuance ➜ Product registration ➜ Mark application ➜ Complete
  
  ‣ Estimated time required : average 6 months

  ✤ License terms

  The license for Vegan Trademark can be selected from 12 months or 24 months, and renewal is checked 1 to 2 months before the expiration date in the UK. If there are no changes to the product at the time of renewal (product name/design change/all ingredients change/product discontinuation, etc.), you can pay the same amount as the existing license fee and extend the period through renewal.

  ✤ Period

  After receiving the application, it takes about 3-6 months to complete the registration. The time required may slightly vary depending on various factors such as the type of product and all ingredients, document handling speed, cost handling, and communication efficiency.

  ✤ Cost

  License cost is calculated flexibly in consideration of the company's annual sales, number of product registrations, and product types. If, during the vegan status of the product, it is determined that the product is unsuitable for vegan registration and cannot be registered, 50% of the payment will be refunded.

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  IGC’s Competency

  • IGC is working with The Vegan Society to conduct vegan certification.
  • IGC is contributing to the continuous development of customers by accurately evaluating the suitability of vegan certification through the technology and expertise accumulated over the years.
  • As a broad range of food-related certification providers, IGC leverages its vast network of highly skilled and knowledgeable auditors to provide the best certification services.
  • IGC is a leading food-related certification body, providing fast and accurate vegan certification process.

Introduction to Vegan Product Certification

Cosmetics

• 

  The importance of vegan certification

  Vegan certification is a certification given as a standard for not using or using animal-derived raw materials, managing cross-contamination, and not conducting animal tests on products. Vegan Trademark has gone through a rigorous certification process, saving consumers the hassle of checking the detailed raw materials, and making it easier to select vegan products.
  
  Producers who manufacture products can also help increase profits by confidently promoting the vegan products they manufacture and rethinking the reliability of their products.

• 

  Vegan Trademark Registration Criteria

  ✤ Animal Ingredients

  The manufacture and/or development of the product, and where applicable its ingredients, must not involve, or have involved, the use of any animal product, by-product or derivative.

  ✤ Animal Testing

  The development and/or manufacture of the product, and where applicable its ingredients, must not involve, or have involved, testing of any sort on animals conducted at the initiative of the company or on its behalf, or by parties over whom the company has effective control.

  ✤ Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

  The development and/or production of genetically modified organisms (GMO) must not have involved animal genes or animal-derived substances. Products put forward for registration which contain or may contain any GMOs must be labelled as such.

  ✤ Cross Contamination with Non-vegan

  Potential cross-contamination of animal-derived ingredients should be avoided as much as possible. Vegan production lines require thorough cleaning of minimal surfaces and equipment prior to use. Recognizing the risk of cross-contamination by non-vegan raw materials in the production space, and taking all reasonable and practical steps to eliminate it. If you are producing vegan and non-vegan in the same space, it is strongly recommended to start with the non-vegan line.

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  Vegan Trademark Registration Procedure

  ✤ Vegan certification process

  • 1. Reception
  • 2. Confirmation of document review items
    • Submit the documents for the product to be certified. (Application, agreement, OEM contract, etc.)
    • Request for application review and supplement
  • 3. Payment of fees
  • 4. Raw material review document audit (animal genetic test)
  • 5. Request for supplementation according to the determination of conformity / supplement / cancellation
  • 6. Conduct animal DNA test
  • 7. Final examination after confirmation that the animal gene was not detected
  • 8. Issuance of vegan certification

  ※ The official audit processing deadline is 30 days.