Halal Certification Accreditation Deadline Extended

• 25 Apr 2024

In April 2024, the government prolonged the deadline for halal certification bodies' accreditation and export unit registration by three months, now until July 4, 2024, aiming to streamline the halal certification process.

Key points

• Deadline Extension: The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has extended the deadline for halal certification bodies' accreditation and export unit registration until July 4, 2024, from the previous deadline of April 5, 2024.
• Policy Conditions: Last year, DGFT outlined policy conditions for halal certification for meat and meat products, directing existing bodies to seek accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) for i-CAS (Indian Conformity Assessment Scheme) Halal.
• Notification Details :The extension was confirmed by DGFT through an official notification, emphasizing the importance of streamlining halal certification processes for meat and meat products.
• Accreditation Requirement: To export meat and meat products as 'halal certified,' facilities must possess valid certificates from bodies accredited by the Quality Council of India's board, necessitating accreditation from NABCB.
• Covered Products: The certification applies to various products, including meat of bovine animals, fish, chilled meat of sheep and goats, sausages, and similar meat products, enhancing transparency in halal certification.
• Development of i-CAS: The India Conformity Assessment Scheme (i-CAS) has been developed to standardize the certification of meat and meat products as halal, ensuring compliance with established guidelines.
• Global Halal Industry: The global halal food market witnessed substantial growth, reaching USD 1,978 billion in 2021, with projections to reach USD 3,907.7 billion by 2027, highlighting the significance of standardized halal certification processes.