OREANDA-NEWS The national certification system for vegetarian products has been launched in Russia - it is necessary because in 2022 foreign authorities stopped certifying and inspecting Russian manufacturers of such products, Roskachestvo told RIA Novosti.

On the international market, plant-based products are a separate type of food product, separated into an independent group, and the ISO 23662:2021 standard has been approved for them. This standard establishes definitions and technical criteria for foods and ingredients suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

"Russian producers of vegetarian products have become actively certified by the certification bodies of the European Union and the United States. However, in mid-2022, foreign authorities stopped certifying and inspecting enterprises from Russia… In connection with this trend, in 2024, a national standard for vegetarian products was developed in Russia, harmonized with international requirements, and in the summer of 2024, a subordinate certification body "Roskachestvo - Vegan" was created on the basis of Roskachestvo and today received accreditation, " Roskachestvo said.

The tested products will be marked with a special sign - the green letter "R" with a leaf in a green pentagon. Roskachestvo added that the sign may subsequently be changed as a result of marketing research.

The new certificate will certify that the product meets the requirements and principles of vegetarianism. Russian manufacturers will be able to enter the global market with products that will meet international quality and safety standards for vegetarians and vegans.

"Certification bodies in the field of HACCP, organic, halal, green products and services, classification and certification bodies of hotels are already successfully .operating. After the withdrawal of foreign certification systems for vegan products from Russia, it was decided to create a Russian independent certification infrastructure based on Roskachestvo… This will enable consumers to be confident in the declared characteristics of the goods," commented Elena Sarattseva, Deputy head of Roskachestvo.

The Roskachestvo - Vegan authority has already received the first applications for certification, and the verification process of manufacturing enterprises has been launched.