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The meaning of V-Label and when it is affixed to products
Table of Contents
1. Basic information
The V-Label is an international symbol placed on food products that do not contain ingredients of direct animal origin or are not employed in their production. It is in the form of a letter V with a leaf at the end of the right bar and the terms vegan (vegan) or vegetarian (vegetarian). The authorization to use the symbol is granted upon request from the producer and requires them to comply with certain criteria.2. The tale of V-Label history
V-Label (in the shape of the letter V with a leaf on the right beam) has a history of somewhat less than fifty years. It first appeared as the logo of the Italian vegetarian organization AVI (Associazione Vegetariana Italiana) in the year 1976. In the following years, it became disseminated, and in the year 1996 in Switzerland, it was registered as a symbol for the certification of vegetarian and vegan products. Since then, V-Label has developed further - currently, certificates are awarded by local organizations in more than thirty countries worldwide. The branch in Poland commenced its operations in the year 2016.3. Categories of certificates
The V-Label certification differentiates between two types of products: vegetarian and vegan. Below are the definitions: A vegan product is one that is not of animal origin and is not produced at any stage using animal ingredients such as additives, carriers, flavours, spices, enzymes and other products. In practice, vegetarian food includes meat, fish, eggs, milk products, honey, beeswax, lanolin, silk, bee milk and animal colorants. Moreover, the use of bone charcoal and gelatine or fish products for clarification is not allowed. Vegetarian products differ from vegan products in that they may contain milk, cream, eggs, honey, beeswax, propolis and lanolin. However, there are exceptions, such as the ban on battery eggs and caviar, as well as dairy products with animal rennet. It is also forbidden to use meat, fish, honey milk, animal colorants and other animal substances (flavours, aromas, spices, carriers) except those allowed. Just like vegan products, products that use bone charcoal and gelatine or fish products for clarification during the production process are not allowed. Although vegan products meet the criteria of both definitions, they should not be labeled as vegetarian, as this could be misleading for consumers. In 2023, V-Label introduced significant changes in the labeling of products to facilitate the distinction between vegan and vegetarian products primarily through changes in color. Vegan products will have a green logo on a yellow background and vegetarian products will have a yellow logo on a green background.4. Additional certification requirements
In order to receive the V-Label certification, a thorough analysis of the composition of products (including non-mandatory ingredients in labeling) is required. However, this is not the only factor influencing the certification decision. Other aspects are also taken into consideration in the decision-making process, such as the entire production and processing process of the article, to ensure that it does not come into contact with animal products (e.g. microbial feed) at any stage, such that the quantity of non-vegan and non-vegetarian substances in the final product does not exceed 0.1%. Food containing genetically modified organisms (GMO) will also not receive certification. Additionally, articles or their components must not be subjected to animal testing.5. Process of acquiring V-Label certification
The process of acquiring V-Label certification comprises five steps: 1. The manufacturer who wishes to have his product awarded the V-label mark declares his wish by submitting data on his company and the goods to be licensed. 2. In response, he receives an individual offer with a price quote from the V‐Label team. 3. Upon acceptance of the offer, the licensor sends the following instructions for the verification process: 1. The manufacturers who wish to have their product given the V‐Label mark request the necessary documentation, in some cases it is also necessary to carry out laboratory analysis or verification tests. 4. After successful verification, the manufacturer receives a licensing agreement from his factory Signed that the product can be used in accordance with the usual V‐label licence. The manufacturing organisation must also provide the necessary documents for the approval of the product in order to continue to apply the designation of the logo. If the product has not been approved by the V.Label, it must also be submitted to the Manufacturer for approval within 2 weeks of the approval. This process usually takes around 2-8 weeks. The licensing agreement is concluded for one year and can be extended accordingly (if not terminated)6. Products receiving certification
In the early stages of 2023, over 50 thousand commodities, belonging to 4,3 thousand license holders, were marked with V-Label globally. It is important to stress that these were not only foodstuffs; the V-Label was also awarded to manufacturers of cosmetics, chemical agents, nutritional supplements, garments and other non-food items (such as books, candles or jewellery). The mark was also available to certain service providers, such as restaurants, dietary caterers, hotels and boarding houses. The list of manufacturers whose products were marked with V-Label can be found on the organization's website and its social media profiles. However, not all articles meeting the criteria should be marked. This applies to uniform products that are inherently vegan or vegetarian, such as spices, tea, water or raw fruits and vegetables.7. Abstract
V-Label is a symbol that can aid vegetarians and vegans in making purchasing decisions. This is especially significant for individuals who are guided by ethical considerations and for whom it is crucial that not only food, but also everyday items are not derived from animal sources. However, it should be noted that not all items of plant origin are marked with the V-Label emblem. In such a case, if there are any doubts regarding the product's composition or the manufacturing process, it is worth contacting the manufacturer directly for detailed information.
