Five seals. One trusted standard.

A guide to every AVA seal: what each symbol verifies, and what it cannot.

A seal on a package is a shortcut. It lets a shopper trust a claim without reading the full ingredient panel, and it lets a retail buyer accept a label without re-auditing the formula. The catch is that a symbol is only as good as the body behind it. We issue five audited marks, and each one carries the "AVA Certified" wordmark so a shopper can see exactly which standard a product met. This page shows what each seal stands for, so the symbol on the front of pack is never a mystery.

The vegan symbol: what the AVA Certified Vegan seal means

The vegan symbol most shoppers look for is a certified mark, not a generic graphic. The AVA Certified Vegan seal carries the "AVA Certified Vegan" wordmark and is the seal a brand may display once a product passes our strictest review. It confirms no animal-sourced ingredients, no animal-derived genes, and no animal-sourced processing aids or shared-equipment contamination at any stage. That is the difference between an unverified veganism symbol a brand prints itself and a certified one. A self-applied mark restates a claim. The AVA Certified Vegan symbol means an independent body reviewed the full formula and the processing behind it first. The seal may only be used on products we have approved, and only while the certification is current.

The vegetarian logo: what the AVA Certified Vegetarian seal means

The vegetarian logo brands display is the AVA Certified Vegetarian seal. It confirms a product contains no animal-sourced ingredients where the animal is killed or slaughtered, the clear line that separates a vegetarian product from a non-vegetarian one. Like every AVA mark it carries the "AVA Certified" wordmark, so a shopper sees which standard was met rather than a vague green leaf. A vegetarian logo earns its place on a label only after review. We check the ingredient list, the product label, and a sample against the Vegetarian standard before any artwork is issued. The seal stays valid for one year and is renewable, provided there is no formula or ingredient change.

The symbol for vegetarian, plant-based, animal-free, and recommended products

Beyond the symbol for vegetarian and the vegan symbol, we issue three more marks, each tied to a published standard. The AVA Certified Plant-Based seal verifies a product is at least 80% plant ingredients by weight, including water, with no animal-sourced ingredients or processing. The AVA Certified Animal-Free seal covers products such as precision-fermentation proteins that contain no animal-sourced material even when they replicate an animal protein. The AVA Recommended seal is a flexible umbrella mark for brands whose product line spans more than one of these standards. Five seals, one trusted standard behind each.

What every AVA symbol has in common

Every AVA seal works the same way, whatever standard it represents. It may only be used on products we have approved. We issue the artwork together with your Certificate after review, so a brand cannot place a seal on a product before approval. Review takes 5 to 7 business days after we receive a complete submission. Each certification is reviewed annually and renewable, provided there is no formula or ingredient change. If you reformulate, the product is reviewed again before the symbol can continue. That is what keeps any AVA mark defensible when a retailer or a category buyer asks what the claim is based on.

Apply for AVA Seals and Symbols

Ready to certify your product? Complete the AVA application and a reviewer will respond with a quote, documentation requirements, and the next steps. Five seals. One trusted standard. reviews take 5 to 7 business days from the moment we receive your payment, ingredient list, label, and product sample. Approved products receive a Certificate and the AVA Certification Logo for packaging, marketing, and shelf use. Certifications are valid for one year with a simple renewal path. Visit the Get Certified page to begin, or compare alternatives on the Certifications hub.