Licensed marks vs plain words
There are two kinds of “logo” on a supplement pack:
- Licensed trademarks, such as the Vegan Society sunflower, the Vegetarian Society Approved mark, Coeliac UK’s Crossed Grain or the Informed Sport logo. You can only use these once the owner has checked your product and you hold a licence. Each owner sets its own artwork rules.
- Plain statements, such as “suitable for vegans” or “gluten free”. You don’t need a licence, but the statement must be true and, for some words, meet a legal definition.
A home-made badge that looks like an official mark (a green leaf with “Certified Vegan”) can mislead shoppers even if the product is vegan. Use words, or get the real mark.
Vegan and vegetarian
There is no legal definition of “vegan” for food in the UK, so “suitable for vegans” must simply be accurate. Check every input: gelatin capsules, shellac glazes, lanolin-derived vitamin D3, fish-derived omega-3, beeswax and some colours all rule it out. Most vegan D3 is lichen-derived.
The Vegan Society Vegan Trademark and Vegetarian Society Approved marks need registration and a fee. They also check manufacturing steps such as cross-contact controls. Retailers and marketplaces often recognise them faster than plain wording. See also vegan, natural and clean claims.
Halal and kosher
Halal and kosher are religious certifications. In the UK, bodies such as the Halal Monitoring Committee, the Halal Food Authority and KLBD (kosher) certify products, each with its own mark. The usual sticking points for supplements are bovine or porcine gelatin capsules, alcohol-based extracts and animal-derived glycerine. Only use a mark your certifier has approved for that exact product.
Organic
“Organic” is a protected term. A supplement can only be called organic if it is certified by an approved organic control body, such as the Soil Association or OF&G, and the label must show that body’s code (for example GB-ORG-05). Products sold in Northern Ireland or the EU follow EU organic rules, including the EU organic logo. “Made with organic turmeric” wording also has strict conditions, so check with your certifier before printing.
Gluten free
“Gluten free” is a legal claim: no more than 20 mg of gluten per kg. “Very low gluten” means no more than 100 mg/kg. You need test results or supplier evidence to back it up. Coeliac UK’s Crossed Grain symbol is a separate licensed mark.
GMP, ISO and “made in a GMP facility”
There is no official consumer “GMP logo” for food supplements. “GMP” refers to the manufacturer’s quality system, usually audited against a standard such as BRCGS, ISO 22000 or NSF GMP. If you print “made in a GMP-certified facility”, the factory must actually hold that certificate for your product and you should keep a copy. Stock badges that say “GMP Quality” without a certificate behind them are misleading.
Informed Sport and Informed Choice
These batch-testing marks are licensed, and you may only use them once your product has passed testing. Informed Sport requires every batch to be tested before release. See Informed Sport and banned-substance testing.
“Made in Britain” and flags
A Union flag or “Made in the UK” must be accurate. For food, the origin is generally where the last substantial change happened, which for a supplement is usually where it was blended and encapsulated. A product made abroad and only packed in the UK shouldn’t carry a UK flag on its own.
Recycling marks
The OPRL “Recycle” and “Don’t Recycle” labels are the UK standard on-pack recycling marks. Resin codes (a number in a triangle) only identify the plastic; they don’t mean the pack is recyclable. The Green Dot means a fee was paid into an EU scheme, not that the pack is recyclable. See recycling and supplement labels.
Every logo takes space from the legal panel. We’ll check your marks as part of our compliance check.
Not legal advice. This guide covers the general rules for food supplements sold in Great Britain. Check your own product with a regulatory adviser, your local Trading Standards team or your Primary Authority partner.