In the formulation of products that at first glance seem completely plant-based, animal-derived additives can be used. VEGANOK examines both the formulation of the reference product and other fundamental aspects:

• It ensures that the company authorized to use the brand does not carry out or commission animal testing (vivisection) for its entire production.
• It provides a standard also for the wording on packaging: labels of a VEGANOK product cannot contain indications that are not in line with the vegan ethical choice. Phrases like “ideal with red meat” or “perfect to accompany fish” (often found on oil or wine) are not compliant. Also excluded are images where the product is paired with animal derivatives.

Learn more about the topic here: https://www.osservatorioveganok.com/marchio-veganok-perche-sceglierlo-anche-per-prodotti-naturalmente-100-vegetali

Background: The packaging of a product can contain animal derivatives. Among the “ingredients” of packaging, animal substances like casein, lanolin, beef tallow, and other substances unacceptable in a vegan product are often present. Some examples: while lanolin is generally used as a lubricant, beeswax and caseins are primarily used as adhesives and polishers. Companies adhering to the VEG-PACK standard must also provide all documentation related to all packaging materials and pass the relevant checks.

Products labeled “may contain traces of milk (or eggs)…” can be considered Vegan. This phrase refers to the possibility of unintentional cross-contamination with a certain allergen. It is not about the ingredients intentionally used in the product’s formulation but indicates that during storage, transport, or processing, there might be minimal contamination. Furthermore, it is plausible that a vegan product is produced on production lines where, at different times, products with animal ingredients are also processed: a prime example being confectionery or bakery products. This wording must be included on the product packaging by law to protect allergic individuals who may have severe reactions triggered by allergens like milk, eggs, shellfish, crustaceans, soy, wheat, nuts, mustard, peanuts, etc. Whenever a producer cannot exclude accidental contamination, it must be indicated. But there is a difference between ingredients and traces. The issue of cross-contamination is therefore a matter of food safety. The Vegan consumer makes an ethical choice when purchasing a product and can thus accept the rare possibility of cross-contamination. https://www.osservatorioveganok.com/tracce-di-e-prodotto-vegan-la-normativa/

Discussing wine suitable for Vegan consumption involves delving into the process of clarification, used to reduce protein haziness. This process is often carried out using technological aids of animal origin such as caseins, animal gelatins, ox blood, and other more specific substances that are incompatible with the Vegan choice. These clarifying agents are not part of the ingredients but are instead “technological aids”, which is why this procedure does not exclude wine from being suitable for Vegans. For a wine, beer, or any other type of alcoholic beverage to be correctly clarified with methods fully compatible with the Vegan choice, the filtration process must be executed without the use of animal-derived substances. The VEGANOK standard includes a specific note for wine: “for alcoholic beverages, the use of animal-derived products for the clarification and stabilization of the product, such as albumin, casein, fish glue, animal gelatins, etc., is not allowed. ” Clearly, the label must not contain indications referring to the consumption of wine in combination with animal-based dishes. https://www.osservatorioveganok.com/vino-vegano-cosa-significa-facciamo-chiarezza-sullargomento/

Over the years, we have received reports of products that displayed the VEGANOK label yet contained animal-derived ingredients. This represents an improper use of our trademark, as VEGANOK does not grant nor has ever granted certification to products that do not conform to our standards. When there has been unauthorized use of the logo, we have regularly reported the incident and made it known through our official channels. In terms of trademark protection and intellectual property law, the rules are very clear: a product that bears a registered trademark without valid authorization from the owner constitutes a case of trademark infringement, which can be punished with imprisonment for up to 3 years and a fine of up to €25,000. If there are products on the market carrying the VEGANOK trademark without authorization, this should be considered illegal and may constitute an evident case of counterfeiting under Articles 20 and 22 of the Industrial Property Code (C.P.I.), and could also be considered an act of unfair competition under Article 2598, paragraph 1 of the Civil Code. The only way to verify if a product is legitimately authorized to use the VEGANOK trademark is to check for the company code on the back of the package and consult the veganok.com website. Companies that adhere to the VEGANOK standard are authorized to use the mark on a given product only if all conditions included in the standard are met. Once conformity is verified by the competent internal office, the company is obliged to display the mark on the front of the product and show the company code on the back of the package. Both these elements must therefore be present simultaneously. VEGANOK boasts a network of attentive and active consumers and acts promptly in case of reports. Have you encountered a non-compliant product? Report it here.

The VEGANOK standard is an ethical project, and from this perspective, it’s clear that vivisection is a practice completely incompatible with our values. For this reason, no company using the VEGANOK standard for its products can carry out (nor commission others to carry out) animal experiments of any kind. Purchasing a certified product guarantees that the manufacturing company does not conduct or commission animal experiments even for Asian markets, where testing is mandatory by law. Of course, it’s possible that once outside the control of the original company, local laws may require local distributors to carry out these procedures. There is also the issue that experiments on animals can still be conducted for molecules not developed for cosmetic purposes, but which can then also be used by cosmetic companies. To avoid these scenarios, there is the option of not using new molecules studied for sectors outside cosmetics in formulations, but this runs the risk of excluding potentially more eco-friendly, newly produced molecules that have a lesser environmental impact (which translates to fewer aquatic life forms being harmed). As can be seen, every choice has its advantages and disadvantages, and every consumer, whether vegan or simply aligned with these issues, should be aware of this.

The VEGANOK certification in cosmetics guarantees the total absence of animal-derived ingredients. Additionally, the products of companies that obtain this certification are cruelty-free, as no company that uses it for their products can conduct (or commission others to conduct) experiments on animals of any kind. By purchasing a certified product, we have the assurance that the manufacturing company does not conduct or commission animal testing even for Asian markets, where testing is mandatory by law. For cosmetics, we have also created the BIODIZIONARIO APPROVED standard, which requires both the biocompatibility of the product and its composition to be respected, as well as the ethical requirements of the VEGANOK guarantee label. Here are some of the guarantees of the standard: 1. Complete absence of ingredients that have involved the exploitation or killing of animals (strictly vegan products only) 2. Guarantee that the company does not conduct or commission animal experiments (no vivisection) 3. Complete absence of ingredients categorized as “red light” or “double red light” on BioDizionario.it (with continuously updated evaluation) 4. Use of natural or organic raw materials and formulation carried out with respect for the environment 5. Indication on the label of the verification code. The consumer can use the code on the website www.biodizionario.it to verify the actual legitimacy of the product (consumer guarantee).

The reason why the VEGANOK standard is the most used by companies and preferred by consumers is due to the levels of strictness applied by the standard. Companies choose us also because of the severity of our checks, which guarantee a complete examination of the product’s characteristics. That the companies do not perform animal testing. The possibility for consumers to verify, at any time, through the unique code assigned to the company, the product label. We want to add another thing, because it matters to us: We are a team entirely composed of Vegan professionals and we believe in everything we do. Saying NO to a non-compliant product is not just for the consumers, but also for ourselves. But most importantly… for them. Every action we take is aimed at recognizing animal rights, and on this, we NEVER compromise.

Probiotics are the billions of bacteria that populate our intestines. Certain physiological and pathological situations can deplete our intestinal flora, leading to the need for probiotic supplementation through supplements, commonly called ‘probiotics’. There is a wide variety of probiotics on the market, and not all of them are vegan. There are two situations in which a probiotic cannot be considered vegan: 1- The probiotic in question contains ADDITIVES of animal origin. The most common additives found in non-vegan probiotics are gelatin (present in the capsule), lactose (excipient), animal-derived Stearates, Mono and Di-Glycerides of animal origin, Shellac (present in the coating of tablets), honey or royal jelly (additive/sweetener), Cochineal (E120) (colorant). 2- The probiotic in question has been ‘cultivated’ on a medium containing animal-derived ingredients, so it is not possible to tell from the ingredients whether or not it is a vegan product. Without specific certification that delves into all these aspects, it is therefore not possible to be certain that a product is entirely vegan. The advice is to choose products certified by VEGANOK to ensure you are purchasing a product that has already undergone all the necessary checks.

It’s important to know that while Vegan certifications do not guarantee the Cruelty-Free standard (absence of cruelty), on the other hand, Cruelty-Free certifications do not guarantee the Vegan standard. VEGANOK was also created to provide a clear and unequivocal answer to this issue: with VEGANOK, there is certainty that the product is entirely free of animal-derived substances, and that the manufacturing company does not conduct (nor commission others to conduct) animal testing on any product, thus ensuring a real absence of cruelty.

The mere use of the VEGANOK standard already implies conformity with the ISO 14021 regulation. Therefore, no additional bureaucratic procedure is required. The reference to the ISO 14021 regulation is provided in the interest of transparency, in light of the field in which VEGANOK operates.

The Vegan world is aware of this step in the production chain, a step that is universally considered compatible with the definition of Vegan at present. The hope of everyone is to soon reach a future where this additional check can be realistically implemented or, even better, made unnecessary. Vegan achievements are gradual, they require time, and every step in the right direction is a great achievement. Including this parameter would imply a significant exclusion of products that are Vegan in themselves, to the detriment of those who make this choice, within the limits of feasibility and with the best intentions.

Once the company has passed the strict controls of the VEGANOK team, it can also request an additional check by a third-party entity. Essentially, this is an extra step, sometimes requested by companies for internal policy reasons.

To understand in detail the differences between the VEGANOK standards, you can refer to the top of this page, in the section “Our certifications”