Halal certification was introduced in India in 1974, initially limited to meat products. By 1993, the scope of halal certification expanded to include a broader range of products as businesses recognized the potential market among Muslim consumers. Major Indian companies, such as Reliance Industries, Tata Group, and Nestlé, now hold halal certifications, even for products that are not related to food. This expansion has turned the halal tag into a marketing tool aimed at appealing to Muslim consumers both in India and internationally.
According to market projections, the global halal market could reach $5814 billion by 2032, with the Muslim population expected to exceed 2.5 billion by 2050. This makes halal certification a significant aspect of business strategy for companies seeking to access this large and growing market.[1][2]
Certification Procedure
Application Submission: Businesses seeking Halal certification must submit a detailed application to a recognized certification body. The application typically includes general information about the applicant, category-specific details (e.g., abattoir, food producer, non-food producer, or food-serving premises), and product-specific information regarding ingredients and production processes. [3]
Documentation Review: The certification body evaluates the submitted documents to ensure compliance with Halal standards. This includes verifying that all raw materials, additives, and packaging materials are free from non-Halal components. [4]
Facility Inspection: An on-site inspection is conducted to assess the production processes, hygiene standards, and overall compliance with Halal requirements. Key aspects reviewed during this inspection include:
Ensuring that all food additives and raw materials are free from non-Halal components.
Verifying that Halal products are free from contamination by impurities forbidden by Islamic rules.
Ensuring complete segregation of Halal and non-Halal products throughout the supply chain to prevent cross-contamination.
Ensuring that the equipments used are free from anything which is considered as najis (filthy) by Islamic Laws.
Compliance with Facility Requirements: Facilities must adhere to specific guidelines to maintain the integrity of Halal products, including:
Establishing an internal Halal audit committee and appointing an Islamic affairs executive, especially for medium and large enterprises.
Ensuring that at least two full-time Muslim employees are involved in kitchen, food handling, or processing roles.
Only halal product should be prepared in the Halal kitchen. Any non halal ingredients or raw material should not be used for all kind of dishes like Western and Chinese food.
Kitchen for Halal food is separated from the non-Halal kitchen and they should not accessible to each other. Same Staff are not allowed to enter both Halal and non-Halal kitchen.[5]
Certification Decision: After a thorough review of documentation and inspection reports, the certification body decides on granting the Halal certification. If approved, the business receives a Halal certificate, authorizing the use of the Halal mark on its products.
Compliance and Renewal: Certified businesses must continuously adhere to Halal standards. Regular audits and inspections may be conducted to ensure ongoing compliance. Certifications are typically valid for a specific period and require renewal upon expiration.[6]
Economic impact
For companies, obtaining halal certification offers the opportunity to expand their customer base, particularly within Muslim communities. However, critics argue that this certification comes with hidden costs. Businesses often pass on the expenses of obtaining and maintaining halal certification to consumers, which means non-Muslim consumers may end up paying more for these products without being aware of the reason behind the price increase.[7]
The role of certification bodies
In India, halal certification is primarily managed by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), rather than a government authority. Prominent bodies such as Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind issue halal certificates, charging businesses for both the initial certification and subsequent renewals.[8] Some critics have raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of these NGOs, given the lack of government oversight.
Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has also faced scrutiny for its financial activities, particularly for using funds to provide legal defense for individuals accused in terrorism cases.[9] This has raised ethical questions about the role of halal certification bodies in broader societal and political contexts.
Government actions
In response to concerns over unregulated practices in the halal industry, the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, took action in 2023 to address illegal slaughterhouses and unregulated meat exports.
On November 17, 2023, a case was registered in Lucknow against some entities for allegedly exploiting religious sentiments to boost sales by providing halal certificates to customers of a specific religion.[close paraphrasing][10]
Entities mentioned in the case include Halal India Private Limited (Chennai), Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind Halal Trust (Delhi), Halal Council of India (Mumbai), and Jamiat Ulema Maharashtra. The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration has since launched a crackdown on halal-certified products across all 75 districts of the state.[11][12]
Criticisms
The expansion of halal certification beyond meat products has sparked debates on both economic and ethical grounds. Some critics, particularly from political parties such as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have called for a ban on halal products across India, citing concerns over the certification's impact on non-Muslim consumers and its potential misuse for commercial or political purposes. Critics have also questioned the communal nature of the Halal concept.[13][14]
Director Rupesh Paul, in his book, Fuck Off, notes “Halal economy is a big thing here. Sharia-compliant companies and halal food indexes are rising to fame, promoting greater investment in the halal industry. This is how the funds generated from halal go back into the system and generate more produce and money through Islamic banking and financial services. This is certainly developing an Islamic stronghold over the world”.[15]
Journalist Utpal Kumar says, "In a democracy like India, where the government has set up FSSAI to certify a product, it is nothing but extortion, especially for non-meaty products. Even if one takes into account the religious sensitivities of Muslims vis-à-vis halal meat, and for that, a body exclusively comprising Muslims can be set up, the government can easily set up its own halal certification centre for non-meat products and earn easy money. The government, which doesn’t mind extorting Hindu temples for money in the name of managing them while pursuing a laissez-faire approach with minority institutions, religious or otherwise, may find this idea quite appealing” [16]
On December 28, 2020, the Hindu Aikya Vedi, in Ernakulam district, issued a notice to a bakery named Mody, asking it to not advertise or stock halal food brands. The Mody bakery removed the tag after receiving the notice.[17]
In 2022, Hindutva outfits launched a campaign against Halal foods in Karnataka by urging Hindus not to buy any halal product. Mohan Gowda, state spokesperson for the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti said " It has come to our notice that earnings from selling halal-certified dates are being used for terrorism and anti-national activities. Patronising halal products is tantamount to supporting anti-national activities.”[18]
More Sangh Parivar outfits such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal have come out in support of the halal boycott call. BJP national general secretary C.T. Ravi too extended support to the campaign, describing the practice as “economic jihad”:
“Halal is an economic jihad. What is wrong if Hindus say they don’t want to eat halal food, just like Muslims say they would eat only halal food? The halal meat might be prasada for them, but not for us,” said Ravi. “Will Muslims buy meat from a Hindu? So, why are you saying Hindus should buy from Muslims?” he shot back at reporters who questioned the logic behind this campaign.[18]
S. Bhaskaran, president of the Vishwa Sanatan Parishat, has called for greater governmental oversight, stating, "The Finance Ministry must have the statistics of the total halal certificates distributed, total cash earned through such certificates, and also the total number of products sold under halal certification." This demand for financial transparency highlights the growing scrutiny of halal certification practices and their economic implications.[19]
T.G Mohandas, a well-known Indian social and political commentator have also raised concerns regarding Halal products and its certification[20][21]
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