ISO 23662:2021

Overview

ISO 23662:2021 is an internationally recognized standard established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that defines the criteria for foods and food ingredients suitable for vegetarians or vegans, and sets requirements for food labelling and claims regarding vegetarian and vegan status. This standard applies to business-to-business (B2B) communications, the global food trade, and prepackaged food labelling, ensuring clarity and fair practice in food marketing and international trade.

ISO 23662 provides a harmonized approach for classifying foods as suitable for:

• Vegans
• Vegetarians (including subclasses: ovo-, lacto-, and ovo-lacto-vegetarians)

The scope is strictly limited to post-harvest activities, focusing on definitions and production criteria, and does not address human safety, environmental aspects, animal welfare, socio-economic, religious, or packaging concerns.

Key Topics

• Clear Definitions: Establishes uniform, internationally-agreed definitions for vegan and various types of vegetarian foods, including allowable ingredients and exemptions for various subclasses.
• Technical Criteria: Outlines requirements for production, processing, and handling to ensure foods meet vegetarian or vegan status, including strict controls on sources of additives, flavourings, enzymes, carriers, and processing aids.
• Cross-Contamination Controls: Mandates good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and cleaning protocols to avoid unintended presence of non-vegetarian or non-vegan substances in shared production facilities.
• Product Labelling and Claims: Provides rules for using vegetarian and vegan labels or claims, stating that all components and processing aids must comply with the relevant technical criteria. All labelling must not be false, misleading, or create erroneous impressions about the food's character.
• Animal Testing: Prohibits animal testing for the final product bearing a vegetarian or vegan claim, aside from specific regulatory exceptions.

Applications

ISO 23662:2021 is a valuable resource for food industry stakeholders and regulators seeking to:

• Develop and Market Plant-Based Products: Food business operators and manufacturers can ensure their products meet globally accepted vegan and vegetarian standards, enhancing appeal and trust with target consumers.
• Facilitate International Trade: Standard definitions and criteria remove ambiguity, reducing trade barriers linked to vegan or vegetarian status and improving consistency between markets.
• Strengthen Brand Reputation: By conforming to ISO 23662, companies demonstrate transparency and a commitment to trustworthy labelling, reducing risk of misleading claims and potential legal issues.
• Support B2B Communications: Ensures mutual understanding throughout the supply chain, from ingredient suppliers to final food producers, supporting accurate product development and communication.
• Comply with Labelling Regulations: Helps food producers align vegetarian and vegan claims with international guidelines and local legislative expectations.

Related Standards

Organizations implementing ISO 23662:2021 may also reference:

• Codex Alimentarius Commission Procedural Manual: Defines international food safety and quality standards.
• CODEX CXG 1-1979: General Guidelines on Claims - guidance for food labelling claims.
• CODEX CXS 1-1985: General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods - specifies requirements for food product labelling.
• EU Regulation 178/2002: Establishes food safety principles and responsibilities for food business operators.
• EU Regulation 1333/2008: Regulates food additives and their acceptability.

By adhering to ISO 23662:2021, businesses in the food sector can more confidently make and substantiate vegetarian and vegan claims, meet consumer expectations, and align with international best practices for food labelling and ingredient transparency.