Standards & schemes
European Vegetarian Union (national licensees)
In brief
V-Label is the vegetarian and vegan product label owned by the European Vegetarian Union and licensed to national partner organisations across Europe and beyond. It certifies individual products as vegetarian or vegan against its standard, with criteria covering ingredients, processing aids, additives and — for the vegan category — animal testing; auditing and licensing are handled per market by the national licensee under the umbrella standard. The label is on-product and consumer-facing, and because "vegan" and "vegetarian" have no harmonised legal definition in most jurisdictions, the V-Label's published criteria give such claims a defined, checkable basis. Certification is product-specific and licence-based, with certificates verifiable through the licensee. The label distinguishes 'vegan' and 'vegetarian' categories with separate criteria, and licensees inspect ingredient documentation including processing aids such as gelatine filters or animal-derived fining agents — the hidden-input territory where most contested claims arise. National licensees list certified products publicly. The label substantiates the vegetarian or vegan status of the certified product only; it does not by itself substantiate health, environmental, organic or cruelty-free wording beyond that defined scope.
Conditional relationships
A relationship does not mean that the standard proves or validates every use of a claim.
Recognition & legal context
No reviewed law references are published.
Have evidence, context or a correction?
Suggest a correction