Australia Vegan Certification Rules (Part 1)

1. Vegan Australia and the Vegan Australia Certified Label 1.1. Vegan Australia (ABN 21 169 219 854) is an organisation which campaigns nationally for veganism. Vegan Australia supports the Australian vegan community, informs the public about the principles of veganism and presents a strong voice for veganism to governments, institutions, corporations and the media. Vegan Australia is dedicated to making a difference for animals, people and our planet through the promotion of veganism and a vegan Australia. Vegan Australia is a registered charity under the ACNC. 1.2. Vegan Australia envisions a world in which people treat animals with respect, ensure justice for them and enable them to live their lives free of human exploitation, use and ownership. Vegan Australia strives to be a respected and credible organisation that gains the trust of both individuals and institutions, so they change their attitude and behaviour, resulting in the end of production and consumption of animal products and the abolition of the use of animals for any purpose, including food, clothing and entertainment. Vegan Australia campaigns for veganism as the basis of a just and ethical society and promotes the benefits of veganism to human health, the natural environment and social justice. 1.3. Vegan Australia is founded on the following considerations: (a) Sentient animals value their own life and body and have an interest in continuing their existence and avoiding suffering. (b) Animals have the right to be treated with respect and justice and not to be treated as property. (c) Production of animal products necessarily results in suffering or death of animals. (d) Humans have no need for any animal products and in particular are able to live healthily on a vegan diet. (e) Many people who adopt a nutritious vegan diet will enjoy significant health improvements by reducing the risk of major killers such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes. (f) Raising and processing of animals for food is a major cause of environmental damage, including land degradation, water shortage, deforestation, ocean degradation, air pollution and climate change. (g) Veganism is an ethical response to many urgent social justice issues. The negative consequences of animal production impact heavily on the poor, the disempowered and the hungry. (h) Issues of race, culture, gender and class are important factors to consider in the promotion of veganism. (i) Humans should reduce the harm caused indirectly to animals due to the extraction of natural resources, transportation, development and other human activities as much as possible, including harm due to agriculture. 1.4. In order to achieve these aims, Vegan Australia provides the right to use its Vegan Australia Certified Label (Certification Mark) on any food or beverage which an Applicant has applied for and that meets the certification rules set out in this document. The aim of the Vegan Australia Certified program is to ensure that products bearing the Vegan Australia Certified Label do not contain any ingredients of animal origin and that animal products have not been used during the manufacturing process. Vegan certification helps both vegan businesses and non-vegan businesses promote their vegan products. It also provides assurance to those looking for vegan products. 1.5. The Vegan Australia Certified Label may only be used on specific food and beverages applied for by the Applicant which has been certified by Vegan Australia in accordance with the criteria set out in these rules. 2. Definitions “Applicant” means any entity (whether a sole proprietor or trader, partnership, trust, company, franchise, joint venture, holding company or any other business venture which operates for a profit or not-for-profit) that has applied to Vegan Australia for Certification; “Certification” means the result of the process by which an Applicant is determined by Vegan Australia to satisfy all requirements for Certification set by Vegan Australia in these rules; “Product” means any food or beverage submitted by an Applicant for certification under these rules; “Vegan Australia” means Vegan Australia (ABN 21 169 219 854) and its board of directors, employees, agents and officers; “Vegan Australia Certified Label” means the trade mark which is the subject of Australian Trade Mark Application 1944358 as depicted in the Annexure to these rules; “Vegan Australia Certified Product” means a food or beverage product which has been deemed by Vegan Australia to satisfy the Certification criteria and therefore the business which sells such food or beverage is permitted to use the Vegan Australia Certified Label. 3. Application of Rules These rules shall apply to: (a) Vegan Australia; and (b) Applicants. 4. Certification process 4.1. Applicants are required to submit to Vegan Australia's Certification process which consists of the following four (4) stages: (a) Qualification; (b) Assessment; (c) Determination; and (d) Audit. 4.2. Applicants may elect to withdraw its Products from the Certification process at any time. 5. Qualification 5.1. Any Applicant who wishes to apply for Certification on its Products shall lodge its request by the instructions of Australia Vegan Certificate Standards. 5.2. Vegan Australia will provide to the Applicant an invitation pack which includes information on Certification and the documentation and information required by the Applicant during the assessment of their application. 6. Assessment 6.1. The first stage of the assessment phase of Certification requires the Applicant to submit information and documentation to Vegan Australia to demonstrate that the Products are vegan products for the purposes of Certification. 6.2. Vegan Australia may require additional documentation from the Applicant to confirm the ingredients and method of creation of the Products meet the conditions of Certification. Such requests will be provided to the Applicant during the Qualification and/or Assessment phase of Certification. 6.3. The Applicant must provide documentation to Vegan Australia which confirms that: (a) the Products do not contain any ingredients derived from animals; (b) the method of creation of the Products adhere to Standards prescribed in Attachment A to these rules; (c) the Applicant is competent and experienced in their type of business, with good repute and financial standing; and (d) the Applicant is willing and able to achieve and maintain the Standards prescribed in Attachment A to these rules. 6.4. The nature of the documentation required under rule 6.3 will be advised to the Applicant during the Qualification phase of Certification. 7. Determination 7.1. Once the Applicant has submitted the relevant documentation required under the assessment phase of Certification, the Applicant's application in its entirety will be considered by Vegan Australia in order to make a determination as to whether the Products qualify as Vegan Australia Certified Products. The determination will be based on the documented evidence provided by the Applicant, including ingredients lists, recipes and procedures to minimise cross contamination. If any ingredients may be of animal origin or are compound ingredients, Applicants must confirm the sub-ingredients and non-animal sources. Vegan Australia will advise how this confirmation is to be done, which may include declarations by the Applicant or statements from the Applicant's suppliers. Applicants must also supply a declaration stating that the submitted products meet and, during the period of Certification will continue to meet, the conditions of Certification and that any changes to ingredients or processes will be notified to Vegan Australia. 7.2. If Products satisfy the criteria for Certification, Vegan Australia will conditionally approve the application of the Applicant. 7.3. Applicants will be advised of Vegan Australia's determination of their application within 3 business days of the decision being made, and formal notification, including the Licence Agreement, will be sent to the Vegan Australia Certified Business within ten (10) business days of the initial notification. 7.4. Vegan Australia will notify the Applicant in writing where the Applicant's Products fail to meet Certification criteria. The written notification will include the reasons for the decision and the grounds upon which the decision is founded. 7.5. Applicants whose Products do not qualify for Certification may re-apply three (3) months after the date of denial once changes are made to the Products which may positively affect the Certification criteria.