India: With An Eye On Global Market, Food Firms Seek Halal Certification In Droves

Gujrat, India – Firms from Gujarat, especially those in the food processing sector, top the list of companies who have got “Halal Certifications” and are eyeing the growing consumer segment that wants to buy ethically made products and services. Of the 650 Halal certifications issued by Halal India Certification Body – a four-year-old a private certifying organisation – more than 300 companies from Gujarat got it.

“Around 60 per cent of the companies that we have given Halal certification to are from Gujarat and a significant number are into food manufacturing sector. Ahmedabad is home to some of these big companies that offer halal-certified products and services in India,” said Mohd Meeran Sultan, Director of Halal Certification India who was in the city recently to launch a “Halal-certified” brand of cosmetics.

“Among companies from Gujarat that have come to us for certification include Tata Salt, agro processing and trading firm Gujarat Ambuja Exports Limited, Vadilal Ice-creams, Fortune Oil among others. Around 99% of our clients who own these firms are non-Muslims. Among some of the other big brands that have halal certification include Kelloggs, Haldiram’s, Daawat Basmati Rice, Taj Caterers. Countries from the Middle East, USA, Australia, New Zealand, China, Brazil and Japan that have a sizeable Muslim population are now looking at halal-certified products and services,” said he added. The word Halal derives from Arabic a word which means “denoting or relating to meat prepared as prescribed by Muslim law”.

Mauli Teli, CEO and MD at Ecotrail Personal Care, that launched India’s first Halal Cosmetics brand “Iba” in Ahmedabad last week, said, “Halal is not just for food, but it is about ethics and a way of life that means pure. We have launched this new category with the understanding that ‘halal’ market is growing immensely in India. Our products are targeted at those women who are not wanting to compromise their belief system and yet be part of the modern world and use products that are equally safe. Being a new product category, we have started with two stores and will be launching more stores in Gujarat and other national cities soon.” The Halal Certification India is one of the many halal certification bodies in India that work in tandem with the Shariah Boards and has tie-ups with over 140 Islamic organisations and presence in over 120 countries.

“Firms seeking Halal certification have to adhere to certain norms like using no animal derivatives in manufacturing processes, no alcohol, no animal testing, no harsh chemicals and no child labour, for which we check the facilities twice in a year. Usually firm that come to us cater to global markets at large and we provide a platform to link them with these markets. We certify that all the Shariah components are to be followed and pass all our compliances past the Shariah board,” Sultan added.

Originally published on www.indianexpress.com