Introduction

The government has broadened the cutoff time for authorization of halal declarations and guidelines of product units by 90 days to July 4 this year.

Last year, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) disclosed the principles of the halal; certification process, for meat and meat products and directed the existing institutions to apply for the National Accreditation Board for Halal Certification Bodies (NABCB) i-CAS (Conformity Assessment Scheme of India) accreditation by April 5, 2024

“The accreditation period for framework registration of halal certification bodies and export entities has been extended by three months till July 4, 2024,” DGF said in its notification.

The Directorate General of Trade (DGFT), an agency of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, recently issued a notification to streamline the Halal certification process for meat and meat products. According to the notification, meat and meat products can be exported as “Certified Halal” only if they are produced, processed, and or packed in a facility with a valid “Indian Conformity Assessment System(iCAS)- Halal” certificate. A certification body that has been properly accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies (NABCB) issues the Quality Council of India (QCI) with guidelines that are periodically issued or amended. 

For export Shipment(s) to countries where Halal is applicable, the manufacturer /supplier/exporter must also comply with the requirements/regulations of the importing country and have valid certificates issued by Halal certification bodies approved according to the national Halal system of the importing country. For the manufacturer, supplier, or exporter, Halal certification under i-CAS is initially voluntary in such instances. 

All existing Halal certification bodies will have six months from the date of issue (April 6) to accredit NABCB with i-CAS for Halal according to this notice. All existing export units, including those already registered as members of the Agriculture and Processed Food Export Development Authority (APEDA), have six months from the date of this notification to register on the dedicated and integrated meat portal. Export is developed by APEDA.