Standards and Regulations

What is Halal Certification?

Halal certification is a product quality certification conducted by Muslim prosecutors based on Halal standards and adherence to Halal dietary laws. This certification covers the entire process from the production and processing of raw materials to the production of Halal foods using these ingredients. Halal certificates are issued to certified Halal foods. Halal certification has become an effective way for food exporters to gain market share in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. A Halal certificate has also become a promising tool for companies to expand into high-end European and American markets.

A large market of 1.9 billion consumers

As people's living standards improve, food safety becomes increasingly important. Halal food is increasingly popular. Over 1.6 billion Muslims worldwide are required to consume halal food daily for religious reasons, while non-Muslims choose halal food for its hygiene, purity, and health benefits. As a result, one in every four consumers worldwide is a halal food consumer. Statistics show that nearly 1.9 billion people in the halal market regularly consume halal food, directly contributing to an annual transaction volume of US$2.1 trillion.

In Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, over 1.5 billion Muslims are required to consume halal products daily. In North America, over 8 million Muslims, like those in major Muslim countries, must obtain halal certification for imported food. Nearly 100 million Muslim consumers in Europe, South America, and some Pacific Islands countries maintain halal dietary habits.

However, in China, due to their long-standing focus on high-end European and American markets, domestic companies lack a clear understanding of halal production standards and related ingredient taboos, resulting in a lack of interest in the halal market. Despite occasional mentions from individual buyers, few domestic companies have actively invested in halal production. This has resulted in a fragmented domestic halal market and even less interest in the international halal market. Of the $21 trillion annual global halal market, my country accounts for less than 0.01%. However, my country's vast western region is currently undergoing significant development. Many areas boast a robust livestock industry, ripe for direct development into food processing. Leveraging the mature foreign trade system of my country's southeastern coastal areas, tapping into the 1.9 billion halal market is poised to become a new initiative for my country's exports.

China-ASEAN Halal trade breaks through zero tariff

On New Year's Day 2010, the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CFTA) Agreement on Trade in Goods was officially signed. Over 90% of products between China and the six established ASEAN members—Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore—will enjoy zero tariffs. China's average tariff on ASEAN products will be reduced from 9.8% to 0.1%, while the six established ASEAN members' average tariff on China will be reduced from 12.8% to 0.6%. The four new ASEAN members—Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar—will also achieve zero tariffs on 90% of their products by 2015. A vast market of 1.9 billion consumers, an economy of nearly $6 trillion, and $4.5 trillion in trade volume—what kind of win-win situation will this create for China and ASEAN amidst the global economic recovery? How will mainland Chinese companies eager to "go global" seize the enormous business opportunities presented by the FTA? (Economic Focus) Excerpted from People's Daily Online: To seize this new market opportunity, securing guidance and certification from a reputable international halal organization is paramount for companies entering the halal market.

Halal certification scope:

1. All seafood and their derivatives; 2. Fruits and vegetables and their derivatives, organic plants; 3. Dairy products produced with Halal-compliant equipment; 4. Raw materials that do not contain animal or alcoholic additives (except alcohol used as a solvent or disinfectant); 5. Oil products derived from vegetable or fish oils; 6. Plant extracts; 7. Chemical products and inorganic compounds that do not contain alcohol (except alcohol used as a solvent or disinfectant);

Halal certification has become an effective way for food exporters to enter the Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, European and American markets and gain more market share. A Halal certificate has also become the most promising pass for companies to expand into the 1.9 billion Halal market.