Halal certification is a process that ensures products and services meet Islamic guidelines. It’s commonly linked to food, but it also applies to things like medicine, cosmetics, skincare, supplements, and restaurants.
To be halal-certified, a product must follow specific rules, including avoiding ingredients like alcohol or anything derived from pork. Businesses seeking certification must also meet certain standards in how they handle and process products.
This certification is important for consumers who follow Islamic dietary laws, helping them make informed choices about what they buy and use. Would you like to know more about how the certification process works?

Halal certification ensures that products, services, and facilities comply with Islamic guidelines, making them permissible for Muslim consumers. It applies to various industries beyond food, including medicine, cosmetics, skincare, supplements, and restaurants. The certification process verifies ingredients, hygiene, and ethical standards to ensure products are free from prohibited substances such as alcohol and pork derivatives. It is important because it builds consumer trust, expands business opportunities, enforces quality standards, and supports international trade in halal-certified industries.

Mechanical slaughtering refers to the process of using automated machinery to slaughter animals, rather than manual slaughter by an individual. This method is commonly applied in large-scale poultry processing, where rotating blades or automated systems are used to slaughter animals in high volumes.

In Islamic slaughter, a trained Muslim slaughterman must personally recite the prayer (Tasmiyah) over each individual animal before slaughter. At HCA, we do not accept mechanical slaughtering. We require that a Muslim slaughterman performs the slaughter manually while reciting Tasmiyah, ensuring full compliance with halal principles.

Animal stunning is the process of rendering an animal unconscious before slaughter to minimize pain and distress. It is commonly used in slaughterhouses to improve animal welfare and ensure a humane killing process.
There are several methods of stunning, including:

• Electrical stunning – Using an electric current to temporarily disrupt brain function.
• Captive bolt stunning – A mechanical device that delivers a forceful impact to the animal’s head.
• Gas stunning – Exposure to gases like carbon dioxide to induce unconsciousness.

At HCA we accept electrical head-only stunning on conditions. We allow controlled electric stunning with minimal amperage, verified by a veterinary surgeon, for poultry and ovine meat. We ensure that animal is alive at the time of slaughter and the cause of death is blood loss. We do not accept captive bolt and Gas stunning.

E numbers are codes assigned to food additives that are approved for use in the European Union and other regions. These additives serve various purposes, such as preserving food, enhancing flavor, or improving texture
They are categorized into different groups:

• E100–E199 – Food colorings
• E200–E299 – Preservatives
• E300–E399 – Antioxidants and acidity regulators
• E400–E499 – Thickeners, stabilizers, and emulsifiers
• E500–E599 – pH regulators and anti-caking agents
• E600–E699 – Flavor enhancers
• E900–E999 – Miscellaneous additives

E Numbers play a vital role in halal certification, as they indicate the source and composition of food additives, which may be derived from animals, plants, or synthetic processes. To ensure compliance with Islamic dietary laws, it is essential to verify the origin of these additives and assess potential risks, such as contamination, processing aids, and alcohol content. Trusted halal certification bodies meticulously evaluate these factors to confirm adherence to halal standards, ensuring transparency and integrity in food production.

Halal certification is essential for ensuring that products, especially food and beverages, comply with Islamic dietary laws. Here’s why it is needed:

• Religious Compliance – It guarantees that products meet the requirements set by Islamic teachings, allowing Muslim consumers to confidently choose what aligns with their faith.
• Consumer Trust & Transparency – Certification provides assurance that ingredients, sourcing, and processing methods adhere to halal standards, preventing any uncertainty about what’s permissible.
• Global Market Access – Many businesses seek halal certification to expand their reach, as halal products are in high demand in various regions, including Europe, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
• Quality & Ethical Standards – The certification process often includes checks on hygiene, sourcing ethics, and production integrity, ensuring high-quality standards for consumers.
• Avoidance of Cross-Contamination – Certification ensures that halal products are not contaminated with non-halal substances during processing, packaging, or transportation.

Halal certification costs vary based on several factors, including the number of products, production site location, and target market. To ensure an accurate estimate, we invite businesses to submit an application, allowing us to provide a customised quote tailored to their specific needs.

We aim to finalize the process within four weeks; however, the timeline largely depends on the client’s responsiveness, particularly in submitting required documents promptly. For urgent cases, we offer expedited processing options to accelerate certification.

Halal certification for cosmetics is increasingly sought after, particularly in regions with significant Muslim consumer bases. Halal-certified cosmetics ensure that products comply with Islamic guidelines, meaning they are free from:

• Animal-derived ingredients (such as gelatin or certain fats) unless sourced from halal-slaughtered animals.
• Alcohol (particularly ethanol, which may be restricted in halal formulations).
• Cross-contamination with non-halal substances during manufacturing or packaging.

Certification helps brands gain consumer trust, access global halal markets, and align with ethical and quality standards.

Yes, halal certification goes beyond food products and applies to various industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care items. It ensures that products meet Islamic guidelines by being free from prohibited substances such as animal-derived ingredients (unless from halal sources), alcohol, and cross-contamination with non-halal materials.
Industries where halal certification is commonly sought include:

• Cosmetics & Personal Care – Ensuring ingredients comply with halal standards, such as avoiding certain animal derivatives and alcohol-based compounds.
• Pharmaceuticals & Supplements – Certifying medicines and nutritional products to ensure they contain halal-compliant ingredients.
• Logistics & Packaging – Verifying that handling, processing, and transportation prevent cross-contamination.
• Hospitality & Tourism – Hotels, airlines, and travel services often seek halal certification to accommodate Muslim travelers.

Yes, pet food can be halal, but it depends on the ingredients and production process. While Islamic dietary laws apply to human consumption, many pet owners prefer halal-certified pet food to ensure the absence of non-halal ingredients like pork or improperly slaughtered animal products.