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1. VeganAustraliaandtheVeganAustraliaCertifiedLabel

Australian Vegetarian SocietyandAustralian Vegetarian SocietyCertification 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,informsthepublicabouttheprinciplesofveganismandpresentsa 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. VeganAustraliaisaregisteredcharityundertheACNC.

Vegetarian Australia (ABN 21 169 219 854) is an organisation that champions the vegetarian movement nationwide. Vegetarian Australia supports Australia's vegetarian community, educates the public about vegetarian principles, and provides a strong vegetarian voice to government, institutions, businesses, and the media. Vegetarian Australia is committed to making a difference for animals, people, and our planet by promoting vegetarianism and a vegan Australia. Vegetarian 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 theychangetheirattitudeandbehaviour,resultingintheendofproductionand consumption of animal products and the abolition of the use of animals for any purpose, including food, clothing and entertainment. Vegan Australiacampaigns 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.

Vegetarian Australia envisions a world where people respect animals, ensuring they are treated fairly and enabled to live free from human exploitation, use and possession. Vegetarian Australia strives to be a respected and credible organisation, earning the trust of individuals and institutions who change attitudes and behaviours to stop the production and consumption of animal products and to prohibit the use of animals for any purpose, including food, clothing and entertainment. Vegetarian Australia promotes vegetarianism as the foundation of a just and ethical society and publicises its benefits to human health, the natural environment and social justice.

1.3. Vegan Australia is founded on the followingconsiderations:

The Australian Vegetarian Society was established based on the following considerations:

(a) Sentientanimalsvaluetheirownlifeandbodyandhaveaninterestin continuing their existence and avoidingsuffering.

Sentient animals value their lives and bodies and have an interest in continuing to survive and avoiding suffering.

(b) Animalshavetherighttobetreatedwithrespectandjusticeandnotto be treated asproperty.

Animals have the right to be respected and treated fairly and should not be treated as property.

(c) Productionofanimalproductsnecessarilyresultsinsufferingordeathof animals.

The production of animal products inevitably results in the suffering or death of animals.

(d) Humanshavenoneedforanyanimalproductsandinparticularareable to live healthily on a vegandiet.

Humans do not need any animal products, especially can live healthily on a vegetarian diet.

(e) Many people who adopt a nutritious vegan diet will enjoy significant healthimprovementsbyreducingtheriskofmajorkillerssuchasheart disease, stroke, cancer anddiabetes.

Many people who adopt a nutritious vegetarian diet will significantly reduce their risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, etc., thereby greatly improving their health.

(f) Raising and processing of animals for food is a major cause of environmental damage, including land degradation, watershortage, deforestation, ocean degradation, air pollution and climatechange.

Raising and processing animals for food is a major cause of environmental damage, including land degradation, water scarcity, 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 thehungry.

Vegetarianism is a moral response to many pressing social justice issues. The negative consequences of animal production disproportionately affect the poor, vulnerable, and hungry.

(h) Issuesofrace,culture,genderandclassareimportantfactorsto consider in the promotion ofveganism.

Issues of race, culture, gender, and class are important factors in promoting vegetarianism.

(i) Humansshouldreducetheharmcausedindirectlytoanimalsduetothe extraction of natural resources, transportation, development and other humanactivitiesasmuchaspossibleincludingharmduetoagriculture.

Humanity should minimize indirect harm to animals caused by the extraction, transportation, development and other human activities of natural resources, including harm caused by 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 whichanApplicanthasappliedforandthatmeetsthecertificationrulessetout inthisdocument.TheaimoftheVeganAustraliaCertifiedprogramistoensure 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 veganproducts.

To achieve these goals, the Australian Vegetarian Society offers the right to use its Strictly Vegan Australia Certified Label (certification mark) on any food or beverage, provided that the applicant has applied for and complies with the certification rules set out in this document. The purpose of the Australian Vegetarian Society certification program is to ensure that products bearing the Australian Vegetarian Society Certified Label do not contain any ingredients of animal origin and that no animal products have been used in the manufacturing process. Vegetarian certification helps vegetarian and non-vegetarian businesses promote their vegan products. It also provides assurance for 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 Australiainaccordancewiththecriteriasetoutintheserules.

The Australian Vegetarian Society Certified label may only be used for specific foods and beverages for which the applicant has applied, which have been certified by the Australian Vegetarian Society in accordance with the standards set out in these Rules.

2. Definitions  definition

“Applicant” means any entity (whether a sole proprietor or trader, partnership, trust, company, franchise, joint venture, holding company or anyotherbusinessventurewhichoperatesforaprofitornot-for-profit)that has applied to Vegan Australia forCertification;

“Applicant” means any entity (whether a sole proprietor or trader, partnership, trust, company, franchise, joint venture, holding company or any other commercial enterprise carried on for profit or not-for-profit) which has applied to Vegetarian Australia for accreditation;

“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;

“Certification” means the result of a process by which Vegan Australia determines that an applicant meets all the requirements set out in these Rules for Vegan Australia;

“Product” means any food or beverage submitted by an Applicant for certification under 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;

“Vegetarian Society of Australia” means the Vegetarian Society of Australia (ABN 21 169 219 854) and its board, 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;

“Australian Vegetarian Certification Label” means the trade mark described in the Appendix to these Rules which is the subject of Australian trade mark application 1944358;

“Vegan Australia Certified Product” means a  food  or  beverage  product which has been deemed by Vegan Australia to satisfy the Certification criteria andthereforethebusinesswhosellssuchfoodorbeverageispermittedtouse the Vegan Australia CertifiedLabel.

An “Australian Certified Vegan Product” is a food or beverage product that has been identified by Vegan Australia as meeting the certification standards, and businesses selling such food or beverages are therefore able to use the Australian Certified Vegan label.

3. Application ofRules  Application Rules

These rules shall apply to:

These rules apply to:

(a) Vegan Australia;and

Australian Vegetarian Society;

(b) Applicants.

Applicant.

4. Certificationprocess  Certification Procedure

4.1. Applicants are required to submit to Vegan Australia’s Certification process which consists of the following four (4)stages:

Applicants must submit to the Australian Vegan Certification Process which consists of the following four (4) stages:

(a) Qualification;

Qualification review;

(b) Assessment;

Evaluate;

(c) Determination;and

ruling;

(d) Audit.

Audit;

4.2ApplicantsmayelecttowithdrawitsProductsfromtheCertificationprocessat anytime.

Applicants may choose to withdraw their products from certification at any time.

5. Qualification  qualifications

5.1. AnyApplicantwhowishestoapplyforCertificationonitsProductsshalllodge its request by the instructions of Australia Vegan Certificate Standards.

Any applicant wishing to apply for certification for their product should meet the requirements of the Australian Vegan Certification Standard.

5.2. Vegan Australia will provide to the Applicant an invitation pack which includes informationonCertificationandthedocumentationandinformationrequiredby the Applicant during the assessment of theirapplication.

Vegetarian Australia will provide applicants with an invitation letter which will include information about the accreditation and the documents and information required from applicants during the assessment process of their application.

6. Assessment  Evaluate

6.1. ThefirststageoftheassessmentphaseofCertificationrequirestheApplicant to submit information and documentation to Vegan Australia to demonstrate thattheProductsareveganproductsforthepurposesofCertification.

The first stage of the certification assessment phase requires applicants to submit information and documentation to Vegetarian Australia to demonstrate that their product is vegetarian for certification purposes.

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 ofCertification.

Vegetarian Australia may require additional documentation from the applicant to confirm that the product's ingredients and production methods meet the criteria for certification. Applicants will be advised of any such requests during the eligibility and/or assessment stages of certification.

6.3. The Applicant must provide documentation to Vegan Australia whichconfirms that:

Applicants must provide Vegan Australia with documentation confirming:

(a) theProductsdonotcontainanyingredientsderivedfromanimals;

The product does not contain any ingredients of animal origin;

(b) themethodofcreationoftheProductsadheretoStandardsprescribedin

Attachment A to these rules;

The manufacturing method of the product complies with the requirements of Appendix A of these Rules;

(c) the Applicant is competent and experienced in their type ofbusiness, with good repute and financial standing;and

The applicant has certain capabilities and experience in the type of business and has a good reputation and financial status;

(d) the Applicant is willing and able to achieve and maintain theStandards prescribed in Attachment A to theserules.

The applicant is willing and able to meet and maintain the standards set forth in Annex A to these Rules.

6.4. Thenatureofthedocumentationrequiredunderrule6.3willbeadvisedtothe Applicant during the Qualification phase ofCertification.

The nature of the documentation required by Rule 6.3 will be communicated to the applicant at the eligibility stage.

7. Determination  Ruling

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 Applicants suppliers. Applicants must also supply a declaration stating that the submitted products meet and, during the period of Certification will continue to meet, the conditionsofCertificationandthatanychangestoingredientsorprocesseswill be notified to VeganAustralia.

Once the applicant has submitted the relevant documents required for the certification assessment stage, the Australian Vegetarian Society will review the applicant's entire application to determine whether the product meets the conditions for Australian Vegetarian Certified Products. The decision will be based on the written evidence provided by the applicant, including the list of ingredients, formula and process flow to minimize cross contamination. If any ingredient may be derived from animals or is a composite ingredient, the applicant must confirm the sub-ingredients and non-animal sources. The Australian Vegetarian Society will advise on how to conduct the confirmation, which may include a statement from the applicant or a statement from the applicant's supplier. The applicant must also provide a statement that the submitted product meets the certification conditions and will continue to meet the certification conditions during the certification period, and any changes in ingredients or processes will be notified to the Australian Vegetarian Society.

7.2. IfProductssatisfythecriteriaforCertification,VeganAustraliawillconditionally approve the application of theApplicant.

The Australian Vegetarian Society will conditionally approve an applicant's application if the product meets the certification criteria.

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 Businesswithinten(10)businessdaysoftheinitialnotification.

Vegan Australia will advise the applicant of its decision on their application within three working days of the decision being made and formal notification, including a formal licence agreement, will be sent to the Vegan Australia certified business within ten (10) working days of the initial notification.

7.4. Vegan Australia will notify the Applicant in writing where the Applicant’s ProductsfailtomeetCertificationcriteria.Thewrittennotificationwillinclude the reasons for the decision and the grounds upon which the decision is founded.

If an applicant's product does not meet the certification standards, Vegan Australia will notify the applicant in writing. The written notification will include the reasons for the decision and the basis for the decision.

7.5. Applicant’swhoseProductsdonotqualifyforCertificationmayre-applythree

(3) months after the date of denial once changes are made to the Products which may positively affect the Certification criteria.

Applicants whose products do not meet the certification conditions may reapply three (3) months after the date of refusal if their products have made positive improvements in accordance with Australian certification standards.

For more details on vegan certification, please call 400-001-7706 for details. Professional certification experts will help you complete vegan certification in one stop!