Body and standard
IVA (International Vegan Alliance) is a third-party vegan and vegetarian certification body, registered in Hong Kong, China. Its certification is based on the Vegan Assurance System standard IVA/VAS 2022:49, with an accompanying internal auditor training programme (VIAT).
Scope
IVA's scope is organised by product category: food (vegetables, nuts, noodles, bread, vegetable oils, grains, confectionery, beverages); textiles (clothing, bags, scarves, gloves, curtains, towels, tablecloths, blankets, non-woven fabric); household and personal care (cosmetics, face masks, body wash, perfume, soap, shampoo); and footwear/bag materials. Vegan certification is not limited to food — a common misconception.
Vegan, vegetarian and plant-based
Vegan means free of any animal-derived ingredient and not tested on animals — the strictest of the three. Vegetarian excludes meat but usually permits eggs and dairy. Plant-based means predominantly of plant origin; it is a market and product term and does not by itself mean free of animal ingredients. IVA certifies the vegan property of a product.
SINOQUAL's role
SINOQUAL is the receiving and promotion partner for IVA vegan certification in China, assisting companies with documentation, ingredient and process review, and on-site audit preparation, with one-to-one guidance throughout. Certification decisions are made independently by IVA.