UK favours global Halal scheme

The HAB includes 13 of the UK’s most respected Islamic scholars. The UK certification business Cert ID Europe has joined as the auditing body for the scheme.

The backers say the scheme is realistic and practical, and designed to combine the requirements of the 1500-year-old Halal belief with modern food processing requirements.

   Various standards are available worldwide, confusing the world’s 1.6 billion Muslim consumers. The aim is for a uniform standard to streamline the process for food businesses and clarify it for consumers.

HAB’s product certification is backed by 950 of the UK’s 1400 mosques, making it the most representative and influential halal certification body with Muslim consumers in the UK and overseas.

Cert ID Europe business development director Jerry Houseago says he believes the new HAB standard will make it much easier for the global food industry to reach halal certification.

“HAB’s connection with Muslim consumers adds value to the certification scheme too and provides the element missing from other certification programmes.”

HAB regulates the production of Halal products in accordance with Islamic law, from the rearing of livestock and the production of drinks, to serving retail customers. It says the halal sector has failed to fulfill its maximum potential due to the lack of a uniform standard applicable to Halal production worldwide.

The HAB standard sets out guidelines including food health and safety regulations, storage, delivery and cleaning and cleansing. It takes into account scientific developments to prevent contamination from pork and other unacceptable derivatives.

Five modules cover primary production of livestock; primary processing of livestock, including guidelines on cleaning and cleansing; slaughter and packaging and labeling; further processing; logistics; and food service.

The standard takes account of other halal standards and so applies to to meat production worldwide.