The ACA’s Vegan Certification is based on The Vegan Society’s standards for Vegan certification. The Vegan Society’s criteria excludes all animal foods such as meat including fish, shellfish and insects, dairy, eggs and honey. Animal-derived materials, products tested on animals and places that use animals for entertainment are also prohibited.
ACA Vegan-Certified Cosmetic Product do not: (1) contain any animal ingredients or by-products; (2) use animal ingredients or by-products in the manufacturing process, and; (3) test cosmetic ingredients or finished products on animals by any company or independent contractor.
Consistent with the Vegan Society’s criteria, cosmetic products qualify for the ACA’s Vegan Certification if they meet the following conditions:
- No animal ingredients or ingredients derived from animals
- No animal testing of the ingredients or of the finished product
- No genetically-modified organisms involving animal genes or animal-derived substances
No animal ingredients or ingredients derived from animals
Ingredients that are specifically prohibited in ACA Vegan Certified Cosmetic Products include:
Bee-derived ingredients: Honey, Bee Propolis, Beeswax, Honey Extracts, Bee Pollen Extract, Bee Venom Extract, Royal Jelly Extract
Bovine-derived ingredients: Milk Proteins, Hydrolyzed Milk Proteins, Donkey’s Milk, Tallow
Sheep-derived ingredients: Lanolin, Lanolin Alcohol, Lanolin Oil, Lanolin Wax, Acelylated Lanolin, PEG-75 Lanolin, Lanolin Acid, PEG-100 Lanolin, Isopropyl Lanolate, Lanosterol Esters
Collagen: Bovine-derived Collagen, Porcine-derived Collagen, Marine Collagen
Carmine: Derived from insects
Animal Proteins: Keratin, Squalane, Glycerin derived from animal proteins. Squalane and Glycerin derived form plant sources are acceptable
Vegan Certification Process
Companies applying for ACA Vegan Certification should submit to ACA:
- The List Of Ingredients for the product using the INCI name of each ingredient
- For each ingredient provide the ingredient Trade Name and Manufacturer
- A Statement of Certification or Statement of Assurance from each manufacturer verifying that they did not conduct or commission any animal tests on the ingredient
- If the ingredient was manufactured biotechnologically, a Statement of Certification from the ingredient manufacturer that the manufacturing process does not include the use of genetically-modified organisms containing animal genes or animal derived substances
- A Statement of Assurance from the Company verifying that it did not conduct or commission any animal test on the finished cosmetic product
ACA will evaluate each product to verify that it meets the ACA criteria for Vegan Certification.
ACA Cruelty-Free Certification
Companies can obtain ACA Cruelty-Free Certification by signing ACA’s Statement of Assurance or provide a statement verifying that they have not and do not conduct or commission any animal tests on ingredients, formulations, or finished products and that they pledge not to do so in the future. ACA’s Cruelty-Free Certification is based on PETA standards.
Companies applying for ACA Vegan Certification should submit to ACA:
- The List Of Ingredients for the product using the INCI name of each ingredient
- For each ingredient provide the ingredient Trade Name and Manufacturer
- A Statement of Certification or Statement of Assurance from each manufacturer verifying that they did not conduct or commission any animal tests on the ingredient
- A Statement of Assurance from the Company verifying that it did not conduct or commission any animal test on the finished cosmetic product
ACA will evaluate each product to verify that it meets the ACA criteria for Vegan Certification.