What is the V-Label EU vegetarian certification, and how wide is its recognition?

V-Label is a vegetarian mark registered by the European Vegetarian Union, which has more than 200 members from over 30 different countries. The registered “V” label is legally valid in virtually every European country — from Spain to Russia, from Iceland to Greece — and is registered in more than 30 countries across five continents, including Canada, the United States, China and Korea. Products that meet the “V” label standard contain no animal meat, no products made from meat or bone, and no animal fats, fully meeting vegetarian requirements.

What product scope and audit points does V-Label certification cover?

V-Label certification covers the food industries (converted products, beverages, raw materials and processing for industrial use), cosmetics (cosmetics, personal-care products, household-care products, perfumes and ambient fragrances), food service (restaurants, cafés, hotels, catering, etc.), and textiles and footwear. Audit points include ingredient source (the source of raw materials and ingredients including additives, preservatives, colors, etc.), the ingredients used at each production stage, and cross-contamination; for cosmetics, animal testing is also audited. The certification cycle is usually 30 working days, the certificate is valid for three years, and it is globally recognized.

V-Label: The European Vegetarian and Vegan Certification

The European Vegetarian Union has more than 200 members from over 30 countries, and its registered “V” label is valid across virtually all of Europe and in countries on five continents (including Canada, the U.S., China and Korea). Products that meet the V-Label standard contain no animal meat, meat- or bone-derived products, or animal fats, fully meeting vegetarian requirements.

The European Vegetarian Union has more than 200 members from over 30 different countries. The “V” label it registers is legally valid in virtually every European country — from Spain to Russia, from Iceland to Greece. Products that meet the “V” label standard contain no animal meat, no products made from meat or bone, and no animal fats, fully meeting the requirements of vegetarians.

EU vegetarian certification

Why choose V-Label

1. International
V-Label is the world's most widely recognized international certification mark, registered in more than 30 countries across five continents, including all European countries, Canada and the United States, and China and Korea.

2. Uniformity
The V-Label brand is widely established and maintains a uniform standard in all the countries where it is used. The resulting advantages are: for distributors, a uniformly defined standard even when manufacturers are in different countries; for manufacturers, a uniform certification process even when production sites are in different countries; for consumers, the same product quality available anywhere, regardless of origin.

3. Transparency
The rules for granting V-Label certification are drawn up and approved by Europe's most important vegetarian and vegan associations. The document first gives clear definitions of vegetarian and vegan, removing any doubt about product suitability by defining the difference between the two categories, and sets out the specified criteria for awarding the mark.

4. Locality
V-Label has representative offices in each country, making it easy to stay close to manufacturers and consumers. Knowing the customer's language and understanding their market dynamics allows V-Label to provide a complete, personalized service based on local realities. Different cultures, languages and markets are never an obstacle; on the contrary, representatives from around the world gather each year to exchange experience and best practices.

5. Safety and reliability
V-Label conducts a genuine inspection for every certification. Manufacturer self-declarations are not accepted; document checks are carried out, and on-site audits or inspections are conducted at the production site when necessary. Although the inspection is rigorous, the approval process is flexible and practical, and manufacturers can draw on the experience of local representatives.

6. Expert reliability
Because the approval process is rigorous, V-Label protects manufacturers and distributors while also taking responsibility for the suitability of the product. This is the main reason why self-declarations are not accepted at the inspection stage.

7. Identifiability by category
The categories are: vegetarian, vegan and raw vegan. Maintaining a uniform image allows manufacturers to offer a wider range of products to end consumers. These categories have different graphic designs so that consumers can correctly and easily identify them and safely buy products that match their lifestyle.

8. History and excellence
V-Label was born in Italy in the 1970s and first formally appeared in 1985 at the first world-class European vegetarian congress organized by the Italian Vegetarian Association. As early as 1989 it was used as an identifying mark for vegetarian and vegan products, and today it is used by various vegetarian and vegan associations as a specific mark.

9. A comprehensive service
In addition to classifying products by vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, V-Label certification offers manufacturers and distributors a wide range of services, providing consulting, image, graphic and media services for clients who want to enter the vegetarian and vegan market.

10. Accessibility
V-Label certification is free for large retail channels and distributors; manufacturers pay the costs of the inspection process and obtaining the certification mark. Its structured pricing makes V-Label certification accessible to any business, from small to large, with solutions customized to need.

The scope of V-Label certification

1. The food industries
V-Label specifically covers non-vegetarian and non-vegan products that do not indicate specific information on the label, such as: vinegar, wine and fruit juice (which may use animal-derived products for filtering and clarification); cheese (which may contain animal-derived rennet); baked goods (which may contain animal-derived fats); any food containing E-class ingredients; and any product containing jelly or thickeners. The V-Label vegetarian, vegan and raw-vegan marks apply to: converted products (finished foods that have undergone at least one transformation); beverages (any drink with or without alcohol); and processing (raw materials and processing for industrial use). V-Label audits against standards in many areas, including: ingredient source (the source of raw materials and ingredients, including additives, preservatives, colors, etc.); production stage (the ingredients used at each production stage); and cross-contamination.

2. Cosmetics
The V-Label mark specifically covers all cosmetics and personal-care products. Even if all ingredients are listed on the product label, it can still be hard for consumers to tell which have plant-based ingredients or conform to a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle. The V-Label mark ensures that all cosmetics in Europe are not animal-tested, strictly prohibits certifying non-compliant products, and ensures products meet the required standards worldwide. The marks apply to: cosmetics; personal-care products; household-care products; and perfumes and ambient fragrances. Audit areas include ingredient source, production stage, cross-contamination, and animal testing.

3. Food service
V-Label specifically covers all kitchen facilities involved in preparing food and beverages that offer vegetarian and vegan options to guests. Uncertified substitute dishes may not be used; vegetarians and vegans should be able to choose dishes that meet their dietary needs, ensuring that, in addition to staff expertise, the dishes are of high quality and variety. The marks apply to: restaurants; cafés, snack bars, dessert shops, ice-cream shops and takeaway food shops; hotels and tourist resorts; and catering services. Audit areas include ingredient source, training (restaurant and kitchen staff), and cross-contamination.

4. Textiles and footwear
The V-Label mark specifically covers textiles and accessories that conform to a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle. In addition to ensuring they contain no leather, silk, feathers, coral, pearls and similar materials, particular attention is paid to dyes and adhesives, to ensure they contain no animal-derived materials.

Preparing the application materials

1. Complete the Vegan application form; the company name should use the registered English information, or pinyin transliteration if none is available.
2. Stamp and sign the last page of the application form.
3. Provide the company's business license.
4. Provide the product packaging.

Application process

1. Confirm intent and complete the application materials.
2. The body reviews the materials.
3. Once the materials pass review, a contract and invoice are issued.
4. Sign and return the contract and pay the advance.
5. Factory audit (depending on the product's risk level — a high-risk level requires an audit, a low-risk level does not).
6. Once the factory audit passes, pay the balance.
7. Receive the certificate.

Application timeline

Certification cycle: usually 30 working days. Certificate validity: three years. Certificate validity scope: globally recognized.

Factory-audit notes

1. Whether the raw materials on the application match the raw materials in the warehouse.
2. Inspection of equipment condition, which is required to be clean.
3. If there are other ingredients used to produce non-vegan products, they must not cross-contaminate the vegan products.
4. Products and raw materials are not subjected to any animal testing.

FAQ

What is the V-Label EU vegetarian certification, and how wide is its recognition?: V-Label is a vegetarian mark registered by the European Vegetarian Union, which has more than 200 members from over 30 different countries. The registered “V” label is legally valid in virtually every European country — from Spain to Russia, from Iceland to Greece — and is registered in more than 30 countries across five continents, including Canada, the United States, China and Korea. Products that meet the “V” label standard contain no animal meat, no products made from meat or bone, and no animal fats, fully meeting vegetarian requirements.
What product scope and audit points does V-Label certification cover?: V-Label certification covers the food industries (converted products, beverages, raw materials and processing for industrial use), cosmetics (cosmetics, personal-care products, household-care products, perfumes and ambient fragrances), food service (restaurants, cafés, hotels, catering, etc.), and textiles and footwear. Audit points include ingredient source (the source of raw materials and ingredients including additives, preservatives, colors, etc.), the ingredients used at each production stage, and cross-contamination; for cosmetics, animal testing is also audited. The certification cycle is usually 30 working days, the certificate is valid for three years, and it is globally recognized.