What is the ETKO Vegan Standard?
The ETKO Vegan Standard is a compliance verification system specifically designed by ETKO to address the rapidly growing and conscious vegan consumer base. This standard is applicable not only to food products but also to a wide range of goods, including textiles, cosmetics, personal care items, and detergents. Its primary objective is to prove, through independent auditing, that a product’s entire lifecycle—from seed and field to raw material processing and final packaging—involves no animal exploitation, uses no animal-derived ingredients, and is manufactured using cruelty-free methods.
Key Technical Criteria of ETKO Vegan Certification
The vegan standard is built upon strict ingredient analysis and supply chain traceability. The technical framework can be summarized as follows:
Prohibition of Animal-Derived Ingredients:
The use of direct animal components such as meat, fish, or poultry in product formulations or manufacturing processes is strictly prohibited.
No indirect animal by-products are allowed, including milk, eggs, honey, beeswax, propolis, lanolin, carmine (insect-derived dye), silk, animal gelatin, or leather.
Processing Aids and Cross-Contamination:
One of the biggest threats to vegan claims is the use of non-vegan processing aids. Agents such as bone char (used for sugar refinement) or isinglass/animal gelatin (used for clarifying wine and juice) are completely banned under the standard.
If a facility produces both vegan and non-vegan items, strict measures must be implemented to prevent cross-contamination. This requires dedicated production lines or rigorous, verified washing and cleaning procedures to ensure no animal residue touches the vegan products.
No Animal Testing (Cruelty-Free):
Under no circumstances can the final certified product, or any of the raw ingredients it contains, be tested on animals. The entire development and manufacturing process must adhere strictly to "Cruelty-Free" principles.
Why Choose ETKO Vegan Certification?
Today, the term "vegan" often appears on packaging simply as a self-declaration (without certification), which rightfully raises doubts among conscious consumers. ETKO Vegan Certification moves beyond self-declared trust; it proves that your products have undergone meticulous laboratory analyses (including DNA testing when necessary) and comprehensive supply chain audits. Obtaining this certificate with ETKO’s international auditing vision elevates your brand to an ethical, transparent, and highly trusted position, making you the first choice for vegan consumers in both domestic and global markets.