Reg. by The Vegan SocietyThe manufacture and/or development of the product, and where applicable its ingredients, must not involve or have involved, the use of any animal product, by-product or derivative.
Die Entwicklung und/oder Herstellung des Produkts und falls anwendbar seiner Bestandteile muss ohne Tierversuche irgendwelcher Art durch den Hersteller, in seinem Auftrag oder durch Parteien, auf die der Hersteller einen effektiven Einfluss hat, erfolgt sein.
«...a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practicable – all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms, it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.»
This statement is how the Vegan Society defines Veganism and they coined the term back in 1944. The founder, Donald Watson, took the first and last letters of the word vegetarian and combined them to make a word that represented someone who did not use or consume animals at all.
So what does «as far as is possible and practicable» mean?
Being vegan is not about being perfect. Which is a good thing, as that's simply not possible. Being vegan is about living in a way that causes the least harm. It is about intention, not perfection. And it’s the most effective « tool» to help change the world for the better, for us all.