V LABEL — International Vegetarian & Vegan Certification

Certification Overview (Business Overview)

V LABEL is an internationally recognized certification mark for vegetarian and vegan products, originally registered in 1996 and derived from the "V" symbol that has represented vegetarian living since the 1970s. Coordinated globally by V-Label GmbH (Switzerland), V LABEL is now used on over 70,000 products and services across more than 50 countries, making it the world's most widely recognized vegetarian and vegan label.

V LABEL certification distinguishes between two clear categories:

Vegan (Pure Vegan): Products must contain absolutely no animal-derived ingredients, by-products, or processing aids — no meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, beeswax, royal jelly, animal-derived flavorings, colorings, carriers, or clarifying agents. Production processes must be designed to prevent cross-contamination with non-plant-based substances. Products must not be derived from GMOs containing animal genes. Animal testing of finished products and raw materials is fully prohibited under V Label rules.

Vegetarian: Products must not contain any slaughter by-products (meat, fish, poultry, offal, animal fats), but may include certain animal-derived non-slaughter products such as milk, eggs, honey, beeswax, lanolin, and propolis — provided these do not involve practices harmful to animal welfare (e.g., no caviar, no royal jelly, no gelatin). Cross-contamination controls and GMO restrictions apply equally.

NGV is an authorized agent of V-Label GmbH for the Chinese market.

Scope of Certification

V LABEL certification applies to a broad range of product and service categories:

Food and beverages: Processed foods, beverages, dietary supplements, raw materials, semi-finished ingredients, and retail-ready products.

Food service / Restaurants: Vegetarian and vegan menu certification — establishments must offer at least 6 qualifying vegetarian/vegan dishes across categories (appetizers, mains, desserts), with staff trained on ingredient sourcing and cross-contamination prevention. Buffet services require at least 25% vegetarian options with clear labeling.

Cosmetics: Raw materials, semi-finished formulations, and finished cosmetic products — verifying absence of animal-derived ingredients and animal testing.

Textiles: Raw fibers, semi-finished materials, and finished textile products — confirming no animal-origin fibers (wool, silk, leather) in vegan-certified items.

Footwear: Vegan shoes and footwear components.

 Packaging: Food and product packaging materials.

Other categories: Containers, conveyor belts, brushes, candles, hygiene paper, decorations, cookware, and miscellaneous consumer items.