Planning to get halal certification? Then learn some basics regarding halal and halal certification fundamentals. The phrase “permissible or legal” can be seen as the translation of “halal.” What is known as halal food is food and drink that Muslims are permitted to consume. The Islamic dietary code originates from the book of the Quran.
When referring to food, the phrase “halal” denotes that the meal: Does not originate from or consist of any portion or item from animals that are prohibited to Muslims by Islamic Law (such as pig, carrion, animals with claws, talons, or fangs, etc.).
What is Halal in the Context of Food?
When food is being prepared, processed, manufactured, packaged, stored, or transported, it does not come into contact with or be stored near any food that is forbidden and contains impurities, as defined by Islamic Law. Nor is it stored near any food that is manufactured in a manner that contains impurities.
Other rules require:
Animals that are permitted by Islamic law and have been murdered in accordance with Islamic law, as opposed to animals that have been strangulated or eaten by wild animals.
Food that has been pre-processed or prepared using instruments or utensils that do not have any illnesses following the requirements of Islamic Law.
According to Islamic law, food—whether it comes from an animal, a vegetable, a fruit, or a grain—must be nutritious and cannot include any item that is regarded as unclean (such as alcohol).
Why Should a Business in the UK Receive their Halal Certification?
If you make or sell halal food, getting a halal certification is a requirement in practically every nation with a high Muslim population. When you export food items to a nation where the majority of the population is Muslim, this becomes an increasingly relevant consideration. Even though Islam does not require a certification itself, food authorities all over the globe make sure that customers of Halal cuisine only obtain true Halal food. This ensures that Muslims may practice their religion without fear.
- Consumers have the confidence that the product they are consuming has been checked by the appropriate authorities to ensure that it complies with the Islamic dietary law even though the manufacturers of halal food are required to pay additional and ongoing costs for the halal certification of their products.
- Laws governing the labeling of foodstuffs in every region of the globe demand that any claims made on the packaging be independently verified as being accurate. A “halal approved” mark on a product’s label is often interpreted by Muslim consumers as an indication that the item is reliable or of higher quality. The use of such a stamp may be necessary in order to export food to specific Muslim nations.
- Products that have been given the halal certification seal of approval will often be labeled with a halal symbol.
- As a result of this, mainstream manufacturers of food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, in addition to hotels, restaurants, airlines, hospitals, and other service providers all over the world, are now investing in the acquisition of Halal certificates because it helps them build and maintain customer trust.
- In some areas, for example, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, you are not allowed to sell certain items unless you have a certificate. If you are able to fulfill the standards of these markets, you will have an advantage over your competitors.
- When you create ingredients with the intention of selling them to other manufacturers, having a halal certification for each individual ingredient will make it much simpler for those other manufacturers to get the halal certification for their products.
- Once you have got the halal certification from a qualified authority, of which there are several available, you will have the option to apply the halal mark to both your product and its packaging, if you so want.
You are not required to have it, and in many cases, being able to provide the certificate is the most crucial thing; nonetheless, you are free to do so if you so choose to place it on the goods.
Export Opportunities Available in the Halal Market with the Certification
If you are searching for a particular market to focus on, Southeast Asia may be one to consider. The area is home to several economies that are in the process of expanding and developing, which has led to a surge in the demand for halal goods among the region’s Muslim population, which will increase the interest in obtaining halal certification for their businesses. This criterion is particularly valid for food that has been packed.
Muslims in China aren’t the only ones driving the demand for halal food and goods in that country. In China, many people believe that eating halal food is the safest alternative since it is considered to be both healthier and more sanitary compared to other conventional and branded items.
In the Middle East, the desire for halal food and goods is not an option but a need, given that the alternative is not acceptable to the relevant ministries.
How Can One Get Your Products Halal Certified in the UK?
You will typically be required to submit an application for the certificate to the competent authority in order to get Halal certification in the UK. Alternatively, you may choose to work with a compliance consultant who will handle the entirety of the process on your behalf, such as Mandreel Halal certification consultancy. Following the submission of your application, your firm will undergo comprehensive corporate audits as well as a documented examination of the quality and production procedures used by the organization.
You or your representative will apply to the Halal Food Authority in the United Kingdom or overseas for the halal certification registration. The Halal Food Authority is an independent, voluntary, and nonprofit organization that is also a part of a registered charity. Its primary responsibilities include the supervision, inspection, auditing, certification, and compliance of halal principles and practices in the United Kingdom’s food and beverage industry.
Most food companies in the United Kingdom are certified by the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC) and the Halal Food Authority (HFA), which are the two oldest HCBs in the country.
Audits are performed with great care on the food processing techniques, such as slaughterers, cutting, processing, distribution, and so on, as well as on the staff that is engaged in each operation. In a normal application for Halal certification, you will need to follow these steps in order to be successful.
- Application for Certification,
- Reviews of documentation,
- Business Audits,
- Evaluation and Recommendations,
- Initial Certification Issuance,
- Audits are performed each year to ensure continued certification, and
- Certifications are issued each year.
Get Halal Certification UK Consultancy from Mandreel
We provide our customers’ with assistance in meeting the requirements for halal compliance for their goods and facilities, which ultimately results in certification from a suitable certifying organization of their choosing. Our consulting services have been improved to cut down on the amount of time and money spent by our customers to get halal certification in the UK.
In general, the services that make up halal certification consultants include gap analysis and feasibility studies, the creation of a halal certification and quality management system, training, installation and verification, certification process and audit assistance, and the resolution of non-conformance issues (s).
