What is Halal Certification?

Halal means 'permitted' under the Quran. The products which are certified as halal is processed according to requirements of the competent authority. Apart from this, the food processed as per the needs of the Halal Certification would deem to be according to hygienic methods of slaughtering. The main aim of this certification is to ensure that quality standards are maintained when it comes to food products such as Chicken and Beef. Halal Certification would be applicable in different areas.

Apart from certification, the authority that grants the license would also look into the processes where the products are handled. They will certify if the food products are suitable for human consumption and day to day use. The proper way of slaughtering the animal is the main consideration while providing the halal certification to a business.

What are the benefits of Halal Certification?

There are different forms of benefits related to Halal certification:

• Consumers would have more trust and confidence in the products and services sold in restaurants, catering business and hospitality service providers.
• When your business is Halal certified, your food can be easily exported to places such as the Middle East, Indonesia, European Union, USA, and other countries.
• Having the Halal certification logo would provide authenticity from any form of frivolous claims which are brought by different forms of associations.
• Marketability of products will increase in places such as the Middle East.
• Having the certification will improve the standards of food products which are exported outside India.
• Having this certificate will improve the standards of the reputation of the company in the international market.

Primary regulatory authority for Halal Certification in India

In Islamic Countries, the government of the country is the primary regulatory authority which provides the certification. It would be simple for the restaurants or agencies wanting this form of certification to approach the government for the same.

The primary regulatory authority for food certification in India is the FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority for India). Industries that carry out the process of manufacturing and packaging food products will have the FSSAI symbol. However, as the Halal certification is a specialized process, the FSSAI does not provide this specific authorization. There are specific private companies that provide the certification in India:

• Halal India Private Limited.
• Halal Certification Services India Private Limited.
• Jamiat Ulama-E-Maharashtra.
• Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust.

Hence to secure this certification in India, the company or business seeking such certification should approach the above authority.

Types of Halal Certification in India

• Restaurant Scheme

Under the restaurant scheme, the halal license is required for running a restaurant. Usually, restaurateurs will take this license for dealing with meat and other meat-based products. Managers of restaurants should ensure that this certificate is renewed regularly. This scheme is used by taking outs, restaurants, eateries and also business that runs franchise outlets which serve meat products.

• Industrial Scheme

Under this scheme, the halal license is taken out for processing and manufacturing different foods. For example, a food manufacturing company would require this certification at their industrial unit to ensure that the food manufactured and processed follows specific protocols related to quality standards. Managers of industries must take this license to ensure that food processed is hygienic and according to the prescribed standards for export purposes.

• Food, Beverages and Catering Scheme

Companies that manufacture food, store food and process food should ensure that this certification is taken out. The halal license would be required in food handling processes to ensure that there are not any forms of added derivatives in the food processes. Any form of derivatives in the food processor would make the food not unfit to consume and ultimately not halal. Beverage making companies should also get the certification to ensure no form of additives is mixed in the process of making beverages. Such additives would include any form of gelatin-based products, emulsifiers or any other enzymes. Companies that are into catering industries must ensure that they are compliant with the standards as required as per the halal license.

• Abattoirs Schemes

Abattoirs must comply with the standards of the halal license. All individual butchers must be qualified as per the authority to perform the tasks as per the procedure required by the halal license. The slaughtermen who are employed in the abattoirs must be Muslim. Slaughtering of pork is not allowed to be carried out in the abattoir. The workplace must be maintained as per the standards required for the halal license. A slaughterhouse such as an abattoir would require the certification.

• Storage or Warehouse Schemes

If a business is starting a warehouse or storage facility, then a certificate for halal would be required. The conditions maintained by the warehouse would be taken into consideration for providing the certification. Storage would include the minimum temperature at which the halal products are stored. Halal products must not be stored with products which are not certified as halal.

• Product Endorsement Scheme

Any products which are manufactured in the industry must be endorsed or certified by a relevant authority. When products are produced in an industry, they would require the relevant halal certification to satisfy the domestic and international consumer standards. Hence, if you are planning to start a food manufacturing or processing business that requires some form of endorsement, then you would require the halal license.

Procedure for Halal Certification in India

Step 1- Choosing the Authority

For securing halal certification in India, the applicant would have to consider which authority to seek the certificate from. The following authorities regulate the halal license in India. Hence the applicant would have to choose the relevant authority for securing the halal license. The following authorities provide the halal license in India:

• Halal India Private Limited
• Halal Certification Services India Private Limited
• Jamiat Ulama-E-Maharashtra 
• Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust

Hence the applicant will have to choose the company which provides the certification.

Step 2- Identify the Relevant Scheme for Halal Certification

In the second step, the applicant will have to choose the relevant scheme for securing the certification. There are different schemes which the applicant will have to choose. Based on the industry or the services provided by your organization, the relevant scheme will have to be selected. If your organization is running a range of different eateries, then the restaurant scheme must be chosen by your organization. If your organization is running a catering and food storage business, then separate halal certifications must be taken for both the catering business and the storage business.

Step 3- Download the Application Form

An organization intending to take the license must download application form from the relevant website authority. Depending on the authority used, the application form will be present on the relevant website. Once the application form is downloaded, relevant information must be provided regarding the type of business activities carried out. No costs are involved in the application stage for the halal certification. After this, an initial assessment will be carried out by the authority to determine if the organization meets the criteria.

Step 4- Meeting Relevant Criteria

Before the application is submitted to the authority, the applicant must ensure that the organization meets the relevant eligibility criteria. The certification criteria must conform to the requirements as per the following standards:

• Halal Certification Requirements

Such as the minimum amount of standards when it comes to the processing of products.

• System Requirements

Ensure that the organization meets the relevant requirements for securing the license in India.

• Staffing Requirements

The organization or entity must also meet the minimum requirements of staffing when it comes to halal license. For example, if a company is having a slaughterhouse or an abattoir, then the slaughtermen must be Muslim and meet other forms of relevant criteria.

Step 5- Submission of Application Form

If the organization meets the relevant criteria for the halal license, it must submit the application. As there are different regulatory authorities for the halal certification process, the procedure for submitting the halal license would be different. For example, if the applicant has chosen Halal India Private Limited for submitting the application, then the same must be submitted online through the portal called e-Halal India System which is present in the website www.halalindia.co.in. The applicant must ensure that relevant fees must be paid before submitting an application. 

Step 6- Approval

If the company or entity meets the relevant minimum criteria as required for a halal license, then the application for the halal license will be granted. A certificate will be provided regarding the same. The applicant must ensure that all the terms and conditions of the halal certification must be followed at all times. Periodical Inspection can be carried out by the relevant authority. This inspection can be carried out by the authority at any point of time without any notice.

Issues related to Halal Certification

With the benefits of taking a halal license in India, there are also different forms of issues. The following are the issues of taking a halal license:

• Increased Cost of Products

When products are halal certified immediately, the costs of processing and production increases. This is obvious as the cost of the final product will also include the certification costs of halal products. The products which require a halal license must be according to specific standards. Hence modifications have to be made in the production process while manufacturing the products.

• Affects Employment Opportunities

As per the respective Halal licensing authorities, only Muslim are allowed to carry out slaughterhouse jobs which leave other communities without suitable employment.

• Discriminatory Practices

Only employment opportunities are provided to a particular sector, which leaves out the other sectors.

• No Harmonization of Standards

Though the halal certification is known throughout the globe, there is no harmonization of standards. This would be required when an exporter requires sending products into another country. For example, the halal license in India may or may not be valid in another country.

Enterslice Advantage

• Enterslice is a recognized consultant for providing services related to Halal Licensing.
• We have multifaceted teams of professionals comprising Chartered Accountants, lawyers, and company secretaries and business professionals.
• We have extensive experience in handling the halal licensing process in India. Our clients range from different restaurateurs, food manufacturing industries and catering companies in India.
• Our service is cost-effective.

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