Halal Certificate

What Is Halal (Food)?

“Halal,” an Arabic term meaning lawful or permissible, refers to a dietary and lifestyle standard defined in the Qur’an. Its opposite, “Haram,” means unlawful or prohibited. While Halal and Haram are universal concepts that apply to all aspects of life for Muslims, these terms are most commonly associated with food products, meat, cosmetics, personal care items, pharmaceuticals, food ingredients, and food-contact materials.

Although many foods or substances are clearly Halal or clearly Haram, some fall into a grey area. These items require further investigation to determine whether they are Halal or Haram and are often referred to as “doubtful” or “controversial” products.

What Are Halal Foods and Products?

In Islam, any food is generally considered Halal unless it is specifically prohibited by the Qur’an or Hadith. However, for a food or product to be formally recognized as Halal, it must meet the following criteria:

• Must not contain ingredients that Muslims are prohibited from consuming under Islamic law,
• Must be processed, produced, packaged, stored, and transported using equipment, utensils, and machinery cleaned according to Islamic guidelines.

The following items are not considered Halal:

• Pork and pork-derived ingredients,
• Animals not slaughtered according to Islamic procedure or animals that died before slaughter,
• Alcoholic beverages and intoxicating substances,
• Carnivorous animals and birds of prey,
• Blood and blood by-products,
• Any product contaminated with the items listed above.

Who Can Obtain a Halal Certificate?

Companies operating in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries can apply for Halal Certification. To be eligible:

• Food sector companies must hold at least one of the following certifications:
  ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, BRC, IFS, or equivalent.
  If not available, ISO 22000 certification can be conducted together with the Halal audit.
• Cosmetics manufacturers are required to have the ISO 22716 GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) certificate.
  If not available, Halal and GMP audits can be performed simultaneously.

Additionally, substances regulated by recognized bodies such as WHO, Codex Alimentarius, or FDA must comply with established limits and restrictions.

Validity of the Halal Certificate

A Halal Certificate is valid for three years, with annual surveillance audits conducted to ensure ongoing compliance.