The noble endeavour of making a product inclusive and accessible to all and being sensitive to the sentiments of all consumers begins with a simple document of certification. Commonly used in relation to food, Halal is the Arabic word that refers to lawful or permissible to be consumed according to Islamic law. Certifying a product as halal is taken to mean that it does not contain any component that is prohibited from being consumed by Muslims and that all the processes in the manufacturing of that product involved utensils or equipment that have been cleansed in accordance with the Shariah. Halal has also come to be regarded as clean and hygienic by Non-Muslim consumers as the products are compliant with HACCP and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). 

Halal certification has the added advantage of the product being deemed safe and carefully manufactured. It also offers increased interest and saleability in Muslim nations as trade permission in 117 countries is subject to the procurement of halal certification. Recognizing the possibilities in the expansion of customer demographic and the need for inclusive business activity, enterprises that are seeking halal certification is ever on the rise. And it is the right decision to catch up!

Halal certification is not just limited to food products and restaurants; Pharmaceuticals and cosmetic companies, healthcare products, cleaning products, hospitals, catering companies, warehouses, slaughterhouses, etc seek certification. Halal certification services are also obtained for Tourism to ensure compatible accommodation, transportation, food, availability of prayer spaces, management of time with regard to prayer time, etc. The certification in India is commonly provided in certain schemes in order to accommodate the type of various businesses.

The certification is procured by a business or company through three steps. A business that is aware and compliant with halal specifications and requirements in the system, product, and staffing are eligible to make their application. The information in the application is then verified and an inspection is conducted by two auditors, one of whom will be a Shariah expert. The audit will involve verifying the genuineness of everything from documentation, processing, handling to packaging, and labelling. They may ask to produce a halal certificate of individual ingredients used in the products. An audit report will be prepared following this to be signed by both auditors and business owners. The audit report is then reviewed by a technical committee along with the documents of the business owners. If everything is found to meet the requirements, the halal certificate will be issued.