The EVE VEGAN ® Standard
The criteria for certification
Vegan products have become a staple of the new ethical consumption. But what does this claim mean? What kind of criteria are checked during certification? Many questions that our certification body wanted to answer by creating the EVE VEGAN® certification standard.
Here we provide a summary of the main criteria as well as general technical information on the scope of the certification. In order to obtain our full set of criteria, it is mandatory to apply for the certification programme via our online form.
I.AREA OF CERTIFICATION
The Certification Domain consists of the Certification Perimeter and the Certification Field:
- Certification perimeter = the organisational units that are part of the Certification
- Certification field = the activities that are part of the Certification
Certification perimeter
In the case of "Factory" certification (validation of the quality management system), the inspection covers the quality system of the operator (candidate for certification). The certification does not include an inspection of the suppliers' production site. In the case of "Product" certification, the inspection takes place after the harvest and concerns the finished product, the operator and his processor, if any. The certification does not include an inspection of the production site of the raw material suppliers apart from the operator himself. Product certification is based on the creation of a product from predefined raw materials. The inspection is carried out from the production of the finished product to the packaging, including subcontracted operations.
Certification field
Candidate products for certification may include raw, semi-finished and finished products from the food, cosmetics and textile sectors, or any other type of product. The services applying for certification may be contract manufacturing, catering, accommodation or consultancy services. These services can be food and non-food services. The certification does not apply to research and development activities, nor to the distribution of finished products. The certified operator is allowed to have a mixed activity, i.e. to produce and market conventional products and services in parallel with EVE VEGAN® certified products or services.
II.CERTIFICATION PROCEDURE
All operators are subject to a certification procedure including :
- Evaluation of the certification file by an expert (technical documentation)
- Audit of the manufacturing site by a commissioned auditor (evaluation of the quality management system)
- Review of the file and the results by the Certification Department
If the production site has already obtained certification in the past and its certificate is still valid, then it does not have to be repeated. Any change in the characteristics of the products or in the production conditions that have an impact on the guarantees of the certification must be immediately reported by the operator. It is possible that these changes will result in the downgrading of the certified product. All certified operators are subject to a monitoring programme including random sampling and unannounced audits.
The certification file must include
- Certification Contract
- Certificate of registration of the company
- Formula of the finished product
- Product labels
- Product pictures
- Brand or company logo
- Technical documentation on raw materials
- Information on packaging items
- Subcontractor certifications, if applicable
- Audit report
III.CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CERTIFIED PRODUCT
Finished product - General
No raw material of animal origin should be used at any stage of the production, processing and packaging of the certified finished product by the manufacturer of the finished product.
Finished product - Processing aids
No manufacturing aids of animal origin should be used at any stage of the production, processing of the certified end product (extraction method, reagents, solvents, bacterial culture medium, enzymes...) by the manufacturer of the finished product.
Finished product - Animal testing
The development and/or manufacture of the certified finished product must not involve or have involved vivisection or live animal testing less than 7 years prior to the certification project, of any kind (research and development, legal obligations), carried out on the company's own initiative or on its behalf, or by parties over which the company exercises effective control.
Finished product – Raw material
The raw materials used in the manufacture of the finished product should not use raw materials of animal origin at any stage of their production and processing. Raw materials derived from biotechnology processes such as bacterial action, enzymes, yeast and fungi, must be guaranteed to be free of raw materials of animal origin. The development and/or manufacture of the raw materials must not involve or have involved vivisection or live animal testing within 7 years prior to the certification project, of any kind, carried out on the supplier's own initiative or on its behalf, or by parties over which the supplier has effective control. Raw materials do not have to be vegan certified in order to be accepted by the EVE VEGAN® certification.
Finished product - Packaging items
The packaging items of the certified finished product must not be of animal origin, including adhesives, seals, caps and other components. The scope of animal origin is limited to the nature of the packaging item itself and does not require a review of its manufacturing history. Packaging items do not have to be vegan certified in order to be accepted by the EVE VEGAN® certification.
Definition of the term « animal »
Animal means the entire animal kingdom, i.e. all multicellular vertebrates and invertebrates, and "raw material of animal origin" means any raw material from breeding, slaughter, hunting and fishing.
En savoir plus
The entire EVE VEGAN® certification standard and procedure is reserved for candidates who have submitted a certification application form. Fill the application form.
Join the EVE VEGAN® certification program!
The EVE VEGAN® certification mark is a certification program mastered by Expertise Vegan Europe (EVE) whose objective is to evaluate the conformity of products and processes according to the criteria established in the EVE VEGAN® standard of conformity. The objective of the standard is to guarantee compliance with the minimum requirements for the use of the vegan claim on products or services. By signing up with the EVE VEGAN® certification mark, you agree to comply with the certification procedure and the criteria of the standard throughout the duration of the certification.
The rules of manufacturing and good industrial practices relating to vegan products are detailed in the compliance referential and are subject to control procedures by Expertise Vegan Europe, an independent organization developed in accordance with the international standards of the certification bodies. The duration of the certification of the products is 18 months, renewable, and all the verification operations are repeated at the end of each certification cycle. For more information please refer to our documentation.