Choose a Halal certifier by starting with your markets, not with the certifier. The right body is one that the regulators in every country you sell to recognize, that is accredited for your product category, that applies a standard your buyers accept, including on stunning, and that is transparent about fees, audits and renewals.
This article was first published in February 2022. It has been updated by The Halal Times editors with current recognition and accreditation rules, a comparison of slaughter policies and a checklist of questions to ask before signing.
Reviewed by Hafiz Maqsood Ahmed.
The choice matters because a Halal certificate is only as useful as the body behind it. A certificate from a body that an importing country does not recognize can leave goods stuck at the port, and one from a body whose standards consumers distrust can cost shelf space. With Indonesia making Halal certification mandatory for imported food, beverages and many consumer goods from Oct. 17, 2026, more companies are making this choice for the first time.
Step 1: Start with where you will sell
Recognition is decided country by country. Malaysia’s Department of Islamic Development (JAKIM) listed 96 foreign certification bodies and authorities in 49 countries and regions as of Aug. 21, 2026, according to its official list. Indonesia accepts only foreign bodies with a mutual recognition agreement with its Halal agency, BPJPH, and the UAE only certifiers registered with its Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
A body recognized in one of those markets may not be recognized in another. Our explainer on whether Halal certifiers are recognized globally sets out how each major market builds its list. For a business selling only domestically, the test is different: which marks your retailers, distributors and consumers trust.
Step 2: Check accreditation and scope
Accreditation is independent proof that a certifier runs a competent, impartial certification system. Many Halal certifiers are accredited to ISO/IEC 17065, the international standard for bodies that certify products, and to a Halal-specific standard such as GSO 2055-2, the Gulf standard for Halal certification bodies. The GCC Accreditation Center accredits Halal certifiers to GSO 2055-2:2021, and the UAE accepts accreditation only from the bodies on its approved list.
Scope matters as much as accreditation. A certifier may be accredited or recognized for slaughterhouses but not for processed food, or for food but not cosmetics or pharmaceuticals. Ask for the accreditation certificate and the scope schedule, not just the logo on the website.
Step 3: Compare the standards and slaughter policies
Halal certifiers do not all apply the same rules. The most visible difference is on stunning before slaughter, but certifiers also differ on mechanical slaughter of poultry, alcohol in flavorings and the treatment of animal-derived ingredients.
| Position on stunning | Example | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Rejects stunning in any form | Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC), U.K. | HMC: “Part of our criteria is that animals are not stunned.” |
| Accepts stunning that the animal can recover from | Halal Food Authority (HFA), U.K. | A 2023 review by Sazili and colleagues in the journal Animals lists HFA among bodies that accept stunning before the cut. |
| National rules that accept reversible stunning | Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, the UAE, Egypt and Yemen | Same review |
The right answer depends on your customers. Some buyers and markets require meat from animals that were not stunned; others accept reversible stunning, and some European countries require stunning by law. Make sure the certifier’s policy matches what your buyers will accept.
Step 4: Ask about cost, audits and service
Fees vary widely and are rarely published in full. Ask each shortlisted certifier for a written quote covering:
- the application or registration fee;
- the annual certification or license fee, and how it scales with the number of products and plants;
- audit fees, auditors’ travel and any laboratory testing;
- fees for adding products during the year, and for each shipment or slaughter certificate if you export meat;
- how often audits happen, whether they are announced and how long a typical certificate takes to issue.
Also ask who reviews the religious side of the audit. Reputable certifiers have a Shariah adviser or committee and trained auditors who understand both food technology and Islamic rules.
Step 5: Check reputation and trademark
Retailers and consumers know some marks better than others. In the United States, for example, IFANCA’s Crescent M is a widely used symbol; our explainer covers IFANCA’s Crescent M mark and what it signals. A certifier’s mark is usually a registered trademark, so a company may use it only while its certificate is valid.
Look for public signs of integrity: a searchable register of certified companies and products, published standards, a complaints process and clear rules on suspension and withdrawal. Our guide on how to read a halal certificate shows what a genuine certificate should contain.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Which national authorities recognize you, for which product categories, and until when?
- Who accredits you, to which standards, and can I see the scope?
- Which halal standard will my products be audited against?
- What is your policy on stunning, mechanical slaughter and alcohol in ingredients?
- What will the first year cost in total, and what will renewals cost?
- How long will certification take, and what happens if an audit finds a problem?
- How do you handle suppliers’ halal certificates for my raw materials?
- Will your name or logo need to appear on my label in my export markets?
For businesses selling in Britain, our comparison of U.K. halal certifiers applies these questions to the main bodies operating there.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need more than one halal certifier?
Only if no single certifier is recognized in all your markets, or if one market requires its own national certificate. Many exporters manage with one certifier chosen for its recognition list.
Can I switch certifiers?
Yes, but plan for a new audit and new labels, and check that the new certifier is recognized in every market before your old certificate expires.
Is the cheapest certifier a false economy?
It can be. A low fee is worth little if the certificate is not accepted where you sell. Compare total cost against recognition, not fees alone.
For the basics of what certification involves, see our guide to halal certification for businesses.
