To simplify the halal certification process for exporting meat and meat products from India, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued detailed guidelines on halal certification.

This initiative, aimed at establishing conditions for exporting specific halal meat and products, became effective on Wednesday, October 16, 2024.

In a notification dated October 1, the DGFT announced that certain meat and meat products can only be exported as halal certified to 15 countries if they are produced, processed, and/or packaged in facilities certified under the 'India Conformity Assessment Scheme (I-CAS) - Halal' by the Quality Council of India (QCI).

The countries included in this list are Bahrain, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Jordan, Oman, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE.

Exporters must provide a valid certificate to buyers in the importing countries after the shipments are made. The DGFT stated, "Policy conditions for export of specified halal meat and meat products are notified."

In April 2023, the DGFT released guidelines to streamline the halal certification process for meat exports, as there was previously no mandatory government-regulated halal certification system in India.

Halal certification in India has historically been issued by various private companies, indicating whether food or products are permissible. Notable halal certifying organizations in India include Halal India Pvt Ltd and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust.

The International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF) is a global network of accreditation bodies tasked with enforcing halal standards in their respective economies.