Government Notifies Halal Meat Export Policies

The Indian government has announced new policy conditions for the export of halal meat and its products, effective from October 16. The exports will be restricted to 15 countries and must adhere to the 'India Conformity Assessment Scheme (I-CAS) - Halal' certified by the Quality Council of India.

The Indian government on Tuesday introduced new policy conditions for the export of halal meat and its products, set to take effect from October 16. According to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), these regulations mandate that specified meat and meat products will be allowed for halal-certified export to 15 countries, only if produced or processed in facilities adhering to the 'India Conformity Assessment Scheme (I-CAS) - Halal' by the Quality Council of India (QCI).

The specified countries include Bahrain, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Jordan, Oman, the Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE. Exporters will be required to present a valid certificate to the importing nation's buyer after shipment.

The DGFT emphasized the pressing need for standardizing halal certification in April 2023, with India's current halal industry still in its developmental stages. The global halal food market, already valued at USD 1978 billion in 2021, is projected to reach USD 3,907.7 billion by 2027, presenting vast opportunities for India's large Muslim population and halal-based entrepreneurs.

(With inputs from agencies.)