Halal Certification

Halal, as per Quaran, means 'permitted' or 'lawful'. Halal certification is required for food, cosmetics and other products which come in direct contact with food items. In many countries like: Middle east, Saudi Arabia, Iran etc. Halal certification is essential to sell the food items. Halal is often used in reference to foods and drinks, i.e. foods that are allowable for Muslims to eat or drink under Islamic Sheridan (law). The criteria specify both what foods are allowable, and how the food must be ready. The foods addressed are commonly types of meat and animal tissue.

The Halal certificate is a document that guarantees that products and services aimed at the Muslim population meet the requirements of Islamic law and therefore are suitable for consumption in both Muslim-majority countries and in Western countries where there are significant population group who practice Islam (France, Germany, United Kingdom, Spain). Halal certification is a process which ensures the features and quality of the products according to the rules established by the Islamic Council that allow the use of the mark Halal. It is mainly applied to meat products and other food products such as milk, canned food and additives. Specifically, for meat products Halal certifies that the animals were slaughtered in a single cut, thoroughly bled, and their meat have not been in contact with animals slaughtered otherwise and, especially, with pork.

Muslims usually use two terms to describe every subject as Halal or Haraam. Halal is an Arabic word which means permitted, legal with respect to which no restriction occurs, and the doing and consuming of which the Law-giver, Allah has permitted.

Benefits of Halal Certification

Halal Certification has various advantages and could provide an edge for business amongst competitors. The following are some of the major benefits of attaining Halal Certification for a business or product:

• Make the business or product marketable.
• Enhance the marketability of the product in Muslim countries.
• Improve the quality of the food or product.
• Use of the Halal logo
• Improve the quality of the food or product or hygienic systems

Mission

• To position the halal market as an economically viable tool and induce product manufacturers to make sure that their products are halal certified.
• To educate through constant promotional tours around India & world with the objective of inspirational and encouraging Muslims to choose and use only Halal certified products.
• To help global Halal agencies in their hard work to support product manufacturers to look for halal certification for their products and services.
• To facilitate the advertising and sourcing of halal certified products and services for direct manufacturers, buyers, agents, investors and business communities in India and around the world.

Halal Certification Procedure

• Application:The business wants to obtain Halal Certification must apply to one of the Certification Bodies. It is important for the business to be aware of Halal Certification requirements at this stage and ensure that it is compliant with Halal requirements, Halal systems requirements and Halal staffing requirements.
• Audit: Once the application information is verified, will visit the business for inspection. The Auditors will verify if the following areas are acceptable for Halal Certification:
  1. Documentation
  2. Processing, handling and product distribution
  3. Storage, display and product serving
  4. Cleanliness, sanitary and food safety
  5. The overall aspects of the premises
  6. Tools, apparatus and machines
  7. Packaging and labelling
  During the audit, the business might have to provide criteria of acceptance of raw materials (ingredients), certificate of analysis and Halal certificate of individual ingredient. Once, the audit is completed, an audit report will be prepared and signed by both parties.
• Certification: Once the Halal audit is complete, a Technical Committee will review the papers submitted by the business and the audit report submitted by the Auditors. If the audit report is adequate and the business and/or products satisfy the Halal certification criteria's, then Halal Certificate can be awarded.