The V-Label is an internationally protected trademark for the labelling of vegetarian and vegan products. Products licensed with the V-label are checked for their composition and every step of production. The V-label is thus a reliable and quick orientation aid. It serves as a decision-making aid for end consumers and enables them to choose food and non-food products safely and conveniently without having to study the list of ingredients or make enquiries with a company.

As the owner of the trademark rights, V-Label GmbH in Switzerland coordinates the international cooperation on the V-Label. In cooperation with the European Vegetarian Union (EVU) and on behalf of the vegetarian organisations, the V-Label GmbH manages the trademark rights and ensures that the V-Label remains protected under trademark law. As the largest lobby group for vegetarians and vegans in Germany, ProVeg e.V. is responsible for awarding the label for the German market.

Why is looking at the list of ingredients not enough? Looking at the list of ingredients alone offers little security when choosing vegetarian or vegan products. Some ingredients are listed as E-numbers, which are unfamiliar to many consumers. Other ingredients are not listed at all because they are not subject to declaration. For many raw materials it is not always clear whether it is a vegetable or an animal variant. In general, it is unusual to list production aids, which are often animal-based, in ingredient lists. For products with the V-label, the manufacturer (licensee) must not conduct or have conducted any experiments on animals. This applies to the domestic market as well as to the foreign market (e.g. under the stipulation of government authorities). Also for the ingredients and production aids, no animal testing may take place or have taken place or have been commissioned by the company with regard to the end product. The V-Label checks the topicality of this information in an annual query.“