Halal certification confirms that a product and its production process comply with Islamic dietary requirements and have been verified by an accredited Islamic certification body, a requirement for entry into many Middle Eastern and South-East Asian markets.
In trade practice
An accredited halal body audits the facility for absence of prohibited substances, clean production lines and, where relevant, dedicated equipment free from non-halal contamination. For plant-based products such as fruit, honey and grains, the main concerns are shared processing lines and non-halal processing aids such as certain waxes or carriers. The certificate names the issuing body, scope and validity period, all of which buyers should verify independently. Certificates vary in recognition between importing countries, so the target market’s accepted bodies should be confirmed before audit.
In a specification
A contract requiring halal status should name the accepted certification body or bodies, specify the scope of certification and require a valid certificate to accompany each shipment.