NSF International has introduced its Protocol 543: Vegan and Cruelty-Free Products certification (NSF P543) across industries. This establishes rigorous verification standards to address consumer demand for science-backed, ethical product claims.
The program is reportedly designed for manufacturers across food and beverage, dietary supplements, personal care, cosmetics and household product sectors. It offers three distinct verification options:
- NSF Vegan,
- NSF Cruelty-Free, and
- NSF Vegan and Cruelty-Free.
Each requires adherence to specific compliance criteria.
Vegan Certification Requirements
The NSF Vegan certification establishes the following mandatory standards:
- Complete elimination of animal-derived ingredients, processing aids and food contact packaging materials,
- Prohibition of animal testing throughout product development phases,
- Supply chain verification, with the NSF Vegan Compliance Plan and Standard Operating Procedures in place to address ingredient and processing aid approval, storage and handling, cleaning and sanitation, training, traceability and recall, and complaint handling and
- Continuous compliance monitoring through scheduled technical reviews.
Cruelty-free Certification Standards
NSF Cruelty-Free certification requires compliance with these parameters:
- Prohibition of animal testing for all ingredients, processing aids and final products,
- Supply chain verification, with the NSF Cruelty-Free Compliance Plan and Standard Operating Procedures in place to address traceability, recall and complaint handling, and
- Ongoing compliance verification through technical review processes.
The protocol addresses supply chain verification challenges through comprehensive documentation requirements and established monitoring procedures. The certification program utilizes NSF's testing infrastructure to provide verification services across global markets.
The certification addresses industry challenges including supply chain complexity, ingredient verification and standardized communication of product attributes through established verification protocols.
Sustainable and Vegan Consumer Demand
According to NSF data, 67% of U.S. consumers consider sustainability factors important in purchasing decisions, while 83% review product labels before purchase. What's more, the vegan food market is projected to reach $37.5 billion by 2030, representing a 10.7% CAGR from 2023 to 2030.
With growing demand from consumers who increasingly seek vegan and sustainable products, as well as the data and research behind product claims, the new certification will lend credibility in a relatively undefined space.
