The NIJ Mark in 2025: The Complete, Definitive Guide to What It Means, How It Works, and How to Use It Correctly (NIJ 0101.06 & NIJ 0101.07)

Written By Mike Bundy

IntelAlytic gratefully acknowledges the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice, for allowing us to reproduce, in part or in whole, the NIJ MARK. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the presenters (IntelAlytic) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

NIJ Reuse Policy

If you’re buying body armor, issuing it, wearing it, selling it, or evaluating compliance claims, you’ve likely seen the circular seal:

“NIJ Compliant Model – U.S. Department of Justice.”

That symbol is the official NIJ Mark — and it remains one of the most misunderstood and most misused compliance symbols in the entire ballistic-resistant armor industry.

Many assume it’s just a general “safety logo” that manufacturers can place on websites, catalogs, or promotional materials.

It is not.

NIJ MARK provided by the National Institute of Justice

It is a federally registered trademark (Reg. No. 5,906,126), strictly controlled, and permitted to appear only on the product label of a ballistic armor model that:

  • Has passed formal NIJ compliance testing

  • Is actively listed on the NIJ Compliant Products List (CPL)

  • Remains under Follow-up Inspection and Testing (FIT) surveillance

If the NIJ Mark appears anywhere else — a website, banner ad, Amazon listing, trade show display, or marketing brochure — it is a violation of federal trademark rules. Yes, even in 2025.

What follows is the most accurate, comprehensive, agency-ready reference on the NIJ Mark available anywhere today.

Executive Summary

  • The NIJ Mark belongs ONLY on the ballistic insert label.

  • It acknowledges a specific model, not a brand or product line.

  • “Tested to NIJ” ≠ compliant, and “NIJ IIIA” means nothing without a CPL listing.

  • NVLAP-lab test reports do not equal NIJ compliance.

  • Misuse of the NIJ Mark remains widespread in 2025.

  • Misuse can result in removal from the NIJ CPL.

  • NIJ 0101.07 introduces stricter durability, label, and surveillance requirements.

  • The NIJ CPL is the only authoritative confirmation of NIJ compliance.

Why the NIJ Mark Exists

Before 2019, companies freely used phrases like:

  • “NIJ Certified”

  • “NIJ Compliant”

  • “Tested to NIJ standards”

  • “NIJ Level IIIA”

even when the product had never been evaluated under the NIJ Compliance Testing Program (CTP).

This created real-world risks:

  • Agencies purchased armor believing it was compliant when it wasn’t

  • Manufacturers used generic “test reports” to imply compliance/certification

  • Officers unknowingly wore non-compliant equipment

To stop this, NIJ registered the NIJ Mark in 2019.

The Mark exists to ensure absolute, model-specific compliance clarity.

When used correctly, it verifies:

  • The model passed NIJ-approved laboratory testing

  • It complies with NIJ 0101.06 or NIJ 0101.07

  • The manufacturer is actively monitored under the FIT Program

The Mark is not a branding icon. It is a controlled compliance label.

What the NIJ Mark Guarantees & What It Does NOT

What the NIJ Mark “✔" Guarantees

When the Mark appears on a product’s sewn-in (or NIJ-approved adhesive) label, it guarantees:

1. The model is formally NIJ Compliant.

  • Not “tested.”

  • Not “evaluated.”

  • Not “similar to NIJ.”

2. The model passed the current standard (NIJ 0101.06 or NIJ 0101.07).

Testing includes:

  • V0 ballistic stopping criteria

  • Environmental conditioning

  • Shot placement requirements

  • Hard armor drop testing (0101.07)

  • Female form testing (0101.07)

  • Multi-hit evaluation protocols

3. The manufacturer is under FIT surveillance.

NIJ verifies:

  • Material consistency

  • Construction methods

  • Label accuracy

  • Documentation

  • Production lots

  • Ongoing quality system adherence

What the Mark Does NOT “✘” Guarantee

The NIJ Mark does not:

  • Certify a manufacturer

  • Certify an entire product line

  • Apply to carriers, pouches, or accessories

  • Validate “tested to NIJ standards” claims

  • Permit use on websites or marketing graphics

The NIJ Mark is a model-level compliance indicator — nothing more.

NIJ Compliant, not Certified (NIJ MARK provided by the National Institute of Justice)

The Rule in 2025: The NIJ Mark May Only Appear on the Attached Product Label

NIJ’s official guidance (unchanged in 2025): “The NIJ Mark is only authorized to be used on the label of an NIJ-approved armor model.”

Prohibited Use Cases

The Mark may not appear on:

  • Websites

  • Amazon listings

  • Product renders or mockups

  • Banner ads

  • Sales decks

  • Social media images

  • Hang tags

  • External packaging

  • Brochures, catalogs, or flyers

  • Distributor or dealer listings

Using the Mark in any of these environments is a trademark violation.

Consequences May Include:

  • Removal from the NIJ CPL

  • FIT suspension

  • Corrective action

  • Loss of NIJ participation

  • Federal enforcement

  • Procurement disqualification

NIJ is actively enforcing this rule and currently has litigation underway for one such violation: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice v. Iliev et al. (Trademark misuse case involving ShotStop’s founder.)

What a Proper NIJ Label Must Include

Example Body Armor Label showing the NIJ MARK

When the NIJ Mark is present, the following must accompany it:

  • Manufacturer name (as listed on CPL)

  • Exact model name/number

  • NIJ standard version (0101.06 or 0101.07)

  • Protection level (II, IIIA, III, IV, RF1, RF2, etc.)

  • Size or wearer name

  • Serial number

  • Lot number

  • Country of manufacture

  • Date of manufacture

  • Warranty period

  • Warranty contact information

  • Required legal warnings

  • “Strike Face” and “Body Side” indicators

  • Care instructions

NIJ 0101.07 Label Durability Requirements

Labels must survive:

  • Moisture exposure

  • Abrasion and rub testing

  • Temperature cycling

  • Peel strength evaluation

  • Long-term readability

The Most Common NIJ Mark Violations in 2025

Top violations:

  1. Using the Mark on websites

  2. Displaying it on marketing graphics

  3. Embedding it in product images

  4. Printing it on hang tags or packaging

  5. Allowing reseller misuse

  6. Claiming NIJ compliance for non-listed models

  7. Pairing “NIJ tested” language with the NIJ Mark

  8. Using the Mark near imported private-label armor

Any of these can trigger an NIJ compliance inquiry.

(NIJ MARK provided by the National Institute of Justice)

The Biggest Problem Today: Misuse of NIJ Language Without Compliance

The most widespread issue in 2025 is not misuse of the Mark itself but of the misuse of NIJ-sounding language by products that are NOT compliant.

Common misleading claims:

  • “Tested to NIJ standards”

  • “NIJ Level IIIA armor”

  • “Meets NIJ requirements”

  • “NIJ III rifle protection”

  • “NIJ equivalent”

  • “NIJ-style testing”

NVLAP ≠ NIJ Compliance

Many sellers rely on NVLAP test reports to imply compliance.

A ballistic test report — even from a respected NVLAP-accredited lab —
is not NIJ compliant.

Compliance requires:

  • CTP-approved lab testing

  • Documentation and construction review

  • FIT surveillance

  • Factory audits

  • Label verification

  • CPL listing

The ONLY authoritative source of NIJ compliance is the NIJ CPL.

How to Accurately Communicate NIJ Compliance (Without Violating Rules)

Preferred, compliant phrasing:

  • “This model is listed on the NIJ Compliant Products List.”

  • “NIJ Standard-0101.06 compliant — verify via official CPL.”

  • “NIJ-listed model.”

  • “NIJ CPL-verified.”

Always link directly to the NIJ site:

https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/equipment-and-technology/body-armor/ballistic-resistant-armor

This link is more authoritative than any image or badge.

Image of the NIJ CPL landing page as of this article’s publish date

NIJ Standard 0101.07 — What’s Changing in 2026 (Hint- it’s not the Mark)

0101.07 introduces major upgrades:

  • New threat categories (RF1, RF2)

  • Expanded multi-hit expectations

  • Female-specific armor forms

  • Tighter construction consistency

  • More robust label durability

  • Enhanced FIT surveillance

Models compliant under 0101.07 demonstrate significantly higher rigor.

How Agencies Verify Authentic NIJ Compliance

Step 1 — Inspect the attached label

Look for the NIJ Mark.

Step 2 — Match the exact model number

It must match letter-for-letter with the NIJ CPL.

Step 3 — Check the NIJ CPL

If the model is not on the CPL, it is not NIJ compliant… No exceptions.

Download the NIJ “How to Ensure Your Body Armor is NIJ-Compliant Guide here- (https://cjtec.org/files/60426917a2d82)

(NIJ MARK provided by the National Institute of Justice)

The Real Fight in 2025: Taking Back the NIJ Mark — Together

Let’s be honest, not dramatic.

In 2025, a significant portion of ballistic armor sold online — across major e-commerce platforms, overseas marketplaces, and certain private-label importers — continues to use NIJ-related language in ways that are confusing, inaccurate, or misleading.

This is not everyone.

There are plenty of reputable sellers who:

  • Avoid NIJ claims entirely

  • Use clear and honest threat ratings

  • Provide transparent testing data

  • Serve customers responsibly

There are also companies — not malicious — who opt out of NIJ compliance because of:

  • Cost

  • FIT surveillance

  • Label durability requirements

  • Administrative burden

  • Perceived design limitations

These sellers are typically transparent about not participating in NIJ compliance. They are not the problem.

The real problem: deceptive NIJ claims.

The growing number of sellers — both domestic and overseas — who:

  • Use the NIJ Mark on websites, banners, or packaging

  • Claim NIJ compliance for models not on the CPL

  • Pair “tested to NIJ standards” with misleading imagery

  • Use ambiguous NIJ-style terms like “NIJ Level IIIA,” “NIJ-approved materials,” or “NIJ spec armor”

This creates real risk:

  1. Officers unknowingly wear non-compliant armor.

  2. Agencies spend BVP or local dollars on non-compliant gear.

  3. Legitimate manufacturers get undercut by sellers who avoid compliance entirely.

Real NIJ compliance requires:

  • Months of testing

  • Strict QMS controls

  • Factory audits

  • Label durability testing

  • Ongoing FIT inspections

Non-compliant sellers operate without these constraints — sometimes transparently, sometimes deceptively.

The solution is collective action.

When one legitimate manufacturer pushes back, they risk being dismissed,

When twenty enforce proper NIJ language in their channels, behavior shifts,

When fifty require CPL verification in all product listings,

deceptive practices lose power.

This shift is already happening — and accelerates when the industry aligns.

This article is the rallying point.

Every honest manufacturer, distributor, and agency should:

  • Share it

  • Link it

  • Require resellers to follow it

  • Use it in RFPs

  • Train marketing and sales teams on proper NIJ use

  • Correct partners who misuse NIJ claims

When reputable actors stand together, the NIJ Mark becomes unbreakable again — and deceptive practices fade fast.

NIJ-Recognized Ballistic Testing Laboratories (Updated for 2025–2026)

Only laboratories that are formally approved under the NIJ Compliance Testing Program (CTP) may perform testing for:

  • Ballistic-Resistant Armor (NIJ Standard-0101.06 / .07)

  • Stab-Resistant Armor (NIJ Standard-0115.00)

Below is the current list of NIJ-recognized laboratories, along with the test categories each is approved to perform.

If a model is tested anywhere else — even at a reputable NVLAP-accredited lab — it is not NIJ-compliant unless it completes CTP approval and appears on the official NIJ CPL.

Oregon Ballistic Laboratories (Salem, OR)

  • NIJ-Approved For:

    ✔ Ballistic-Resistant Armor

    ✔ Stab-Resistant Armor

  • Address:
    2873 22nd Street, S.E.
    Salem, OR 97302

  • Contact: Thomas Ohnstad — Managing Partner
    Phone: 503.540.8114
    Fax: 503.362.5597
    Email: info@oregonbl.com
    Website: https://www.oregonbl.com

Element U.S. Space & Defense (Belcamp, MD)

Element Materials Technology Wichita (Wichita, KS)

Energetic Test Labs, LLC (Phoenix, AZ)

SMS Testing (Rising Sun, MD)

CHECK HERE FOR THE CURRENT COMPLETE LIST OF NIJ APPROVED LABORATORIES

Critical Note for Buyers, Agencies, and Manufacturers

If a ballistic model claims “NIJ Compliance” but:

  • Did not undergo testing at one of the NIJ-approved labs above AND

  • Does not appear on the official NIJ Compliant Products List (CPL)

→ It is not NIJ-compliant.
→ It cannot legally use the NIJ Mark.
→ It is not eligible for NIJ FIT surveillance.

There are zero exceptions under NIJ rules.

IntelAlytic & The Armor List — Your Tools in This Fight

IntelAlytic — Supports agencies, manufacturers, and procurement teams with:

  • NIJ rule interpretation

  • FIT surveillance guidance

  • Labeling/documentation support

  • RFP/procurement consulting

  • Compliance language verification

  • Confidential reporting channels

The Armor List — The world’s largest independently verified ballistic armor database:

  • Every real compliant model

  • Verified CPL entries

  • 0101.06 vs 0101.07 distinctions

  • Threat levels and specifications

  • Side-by-side comparison tools

Agencies use The Armor List daily to reject noncompliant quotes in seconds.
Legitimate manufacturers use it to police distributor channels.

Need help verifying a vendor?
Spotting fake NIJ claims?
Writing compliant procurement language?
Quietly reporting misuse?

Email support@intelalytic.com — confidential, rapid, and zero-cost when protecting officers.

Sponsored Placements on The Armor List

Reserved exclusively for brands that prove their claims.

Details: https://armorlist.com/support-advertise

Mike Bundy
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