The position of the V-symbol

1. General provision

Sign «V» - a great way to mark the European Vegetarianism as advocated by the European Vegetarian Union (EVU). This requires professional support from producers, consumers and the press. Sign «V» will allow entities associated with vegetarianism, to position itself as a consumer association, becoming closer to people and acting as intermediaries for producers of goods and services.

2. Owner of the brand

European Vegetarian Union (abbreviated - EVU) owns all rights to the common sign «V». The terms of this provision apply equally to all licensees and EVU.

3. Appearance of the sign «V»

Sign «V» is a registered trademark, no matter what size and color he was. Its form is as follows:
Accompanying the inscription of the "Recommended EVU» or similar to it in the appropriate languages are allowed.
For goods and products that do not contain substances of animal origin as defined in Article IVa, paragraph 4, may be added the words «vegan».

4. What is covered sign «V»

Sign «V» is registered in the following European countries: Austria, Benelux, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Emblem of the «V» marked the following products, services and activities of: a) Goods
Emblem of the «V» marked those products, which can consume vegetarians.
Sign «V» can be used only for goods that do not contain substances derived from the bodies of dead animals, such as meat, gelatin, leather, bone or fat extracted from the bodies of dead animals.
Eggs are used in products with the sign «V», must be from chickens, not grown on poultry farms. Should be provided with relevant documents.
Products containing genetically modified ingredients, can not be marked with «V».
If the goods do not contain any substances of animal origin, may be added the words «vegan».
b) Service
Sign «V» can be used by organizations related to vegetarianism, such as: restaurants, hotels, hostels, cafeterias and snack bars.
The restaurant, which claims to use the sign «V», must always provide at least one full vegetarian menu, which is updated as often as usual. In addition to courses listed in the vegetarian menu, the restaurant must offer at least another two dishes suitable for vegetarians.
The waiters and staff should know the difference between a vegetarian, vegan menu and raw food diet, and properly classify drinks and dishes from the menu.
The same conditions are mandatory for hotels, guest houses, cafeterias, snack bars, etc.
c) Activities of the organizations
Authorized organizations (as defined in Article V, paragraph 1) may use the sign «V» to its activities (company logo, printed materials, advertising, etc.).
Individual members of the EVU can use the sign «V» in agreement with the Secretariat of the Union.

5. Authorized organizations

In addition to the EVU, EVU member organizations authorized to use the sign «V» after signing a license agreement with EVU.
For his part, member EVU sign contracts with other firms and companies producing services based on these provisions.
The right to use the sign «V» can be granted to firms distributing vegetarian products, such as: food, beverages, cosmetics and hygiene items, clothing and footwear, products for catering and household goods. This rule also applies to restaurants, guest houses, hotels, etc., in which the menu is vegetarian.
EVU acts as a supervisory body for its member organizations.

6. Procedure

European organizations related to vegetarianism and want to use the sign «V», enter into a license agreement with EVU and undertake to comply with the provisions of this Agreement.
Firm or company service provider wishing to use the sign «V», and should seek to sign an agreement with a member organization of EVU their country, and to petition for permission to use the sign «V». Proper organization of EVU-term determined by the place of registration office of the firm, responsible for product labeling, or the location of the restaurant, hotel, etc.
List all ingredients and process of production must be submitted to the national organization of EVU member until the company rights to use the sign «V».
National Member Organization EVU's decision to assign a specific product mark «V». When appropriate, consult with the Office of EVU, responsible on this issue.
At the request of the manufacturer, a national organization of EVU, and may decide to maintain the confidentiality of information about ingredients and production processes.
In countries where there is no organization members EVU or where they are not willing or can not be responsible for the sign «V», EVU reserves the right decision at his discretion.

7. Payments

Authorized member organizations EVU (as defined in Article V, paragraph 1) would charge companies for using the sign «V». 10% of payments national organizations list EVU. Royalty manufacturer or another company based on a percentage of annual turnover of the products and can be set by agreement. Featured EVU levels of payment, usually not less than 250 € (Euro) plus value added tax per year for each product type, marked «V». Fee when you apply for use of the mark «V» is 25 € (euros). License fee for restaurants, hotels and pensions based on a percentage of annual turnover and can be set by agreement. The payment must not be less than 75 € (euros). Internal use sign «V» member organizations EVU (as defined in Article IV, paragraph c) free of charge.

8. Control

All licensees sign «V» pledge to follow their own, whether all necessary conditions are satisfied for the assignment of products mark «V», or to request a special inspection agency before granting them the right to use the mark. After receiving permission to use the sign «V» National Company EVU member must inform of any change under the relevant licensee. The company itself is obliged to provide samples for a reminder.

9. Sanctions

Improper use of European vegetarian sign »V» is a violation and may be the owner of the mark not only on the basis of these regulations and contracts, but also on the basis of the law on trademarks. In case of breach of contract, the owner of trademark has the right to terminate the contract unilaterally and without prior notice to the other side. Moreover, the owner of the trademark has the right to demand the immediate elimination of violations. If the licensee (ie, a national organization with a mandate to use the sign «V») suffer damage as a result of improper use of the mark «V», he may pursue the offender on the basis of competition law, not trademark law. If a company or a restaurant use the sign «V», without permission, or is not fulfilling its obligations under the contract, they can be fined up to 5,000 € (euros). As additional sanctions may be withdrawn permission to use the sign «V» for other products from the same manufacturer, even if in respect of the product was not breached the contract. If a company or restaurant continues to use the sign «V» after the first warning from them may be charged the amount to 50 000 € (Euro). Can be taken and further legal action.

10. Support

Concluding an agreement about the sign «V», EVU member organizations should also support the sign, for example by providing information about the products marked with «V», the media and consumers. If the product bears the «V» and its ingredients and manufacturing process do not change, EVU member organization may not refuse to support.

11. Showcase

Basic materials for advertising the mark «V» EVU available and can be developed in collaboration with a local organization, a member of the EVU. EVU guarantee advertising of products bearing the sign of the «V», as follows: - dispatch, upon request, a current list of products bearing the sign of the «V» - a message for each new product, which is assigned the sign of «V», in the news EVU and the Internet page EVU.