The Indian Commerce Ministry has recently released draft guidelines to standardize the halal certification process for exporting meat and meat products. To fulfill the requirements, these products must be manufactured, processed, and packaged with a valid certificate from a certification body accredited by the Quality Council of India. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has proposed guidelines to simplify the certification process and has designated the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) as the central agency for this purpose. Stakeholders, including the public and the industry, can provide their feedback on the draft guidelines until February 17.
To ensure a more efficient halal certification process for meat and meat product exports from India, the DGFT has suggested draft guidelines concerning halal certification. The guidelines specify that certification bodies must adhere to the procedures outlined in the Indian Conformity Assessment Scheme (i-CAS) – Halal.
Furthermore, the guidelines designate APEDA as the nodal agency responsible for overseeing this process.
According to the draft guidelines, “All meat and meat products shall be exported as ‘Halal certified’ only if produced, processed, and packed under a valid certificate issued by a certification body duly accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB), Quality Council of India.”
The draft guidelines have been shared for comments and feedback from both the public and the industry. Interested parties can submit their input by February 17, which will be taken into account when finalizing the guidelines.
To facilitate the halal certification of meat and meat products exported from India, a scheme called the ‘India Conformity Assessment Scheme (i-CAS)’ has been developed. This initiative aims to ensure a more streamlined and efficient certification process for halal products in the country.
India is one of the largest producers and exporters of meat and meat products in the world. In particular, it is a significant player in the global halal meat market. Halal refers to foods that are permissible under Islamic dietary laws. The growing demand for halal meat worldwide has led India to focus on streamlining its halal certification process to remain competitive and expand its market share in the global halal industry.
Some specific examples of Indian companies that have gained success in the halal market include:
- Allana Group: This company is one of the largest exporters of halal meat from India, with a presence in over 85 countries. Allana Group exports various halal-certified meat products, including frozen and chilled buffalo meat, sheep and goat meat, and other processed meat products.
- Al Kabeer Group: Established in 1974, the Al Kabeer Group is a leading manufacturer and exporter of halal-certified frozen food products. Its product portfolio includes frozen meat, poultry, seafood, vegetable products, and ready-to-cook meals.
- Frigerio Conserva Allana: A joint venture between Allana Group and Italy’s Frigerio Conserva, this company focuses on manufacturing and exporting premium halal-certified processed meat products, such as corned beef, luncheon meat, and sausages.
The draft guidelines proposed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) aim to establish a more efficient halal certification process for meat and meat product exports from India. By following the Indian Conformity Assessment Scheme (i-CAS) – Halal, the country seeks to ensure a higher level of compliance with Islamic dietary laws and better meet the needs of the global halal market. Implementing a more streamlined certification process will not only benefit existing Indian exporters but also encourage new players to enter the growing global halal market.
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