For companies aiming to export their food and beverage products to Saudi Arabia, complying with specific regulations is essential. This article outlines the necessary steps to achieve Halal certification and successfully enter the Saudi market.
1- Introduction to Halal Certification
Halal certification is based on the harmonized Halal Standards and Islamic Sharia requirements for the GCC region. This certification ensures that products:
• Respect Islamic religious precepts,
• Maintain a high level of hygiene and safety,
• Meet the growing demand for Halal products in international markets.
The Halal logo instantly distinguishes products conforming to Islamic guidelines, providing a simple and effective way to attract consumer attention across various markets.
2- Compliance with Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) Requirements
The SFDA mandates that all food imports adhere to its Halal certification regulations, as detailed in circular 10301/A.
Since 2020, all shipments of meat and poultry destined for Saudi Arabia must obtain a Halal certificate for both the manufacturer and each shipment. From November 2023, this requirement extends to several other commonly consumed foods.
Validation and authorization by the Halal Center are required for all products intended for the Saudi market before their entry into the country. This necessitates obtaining a batch-wise Halal certificate, also known as the Halal Shipment Certificate.
Starting from November 2023, the acquisition of these certificates is mandatory for various product categories, including lawful animal meats, meat products, processed meats, animal-derived derivatives, products containing meat, meat extracts or derivatives, composite products, and any items labelled as Halal.
Halal certification applies to the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical sectors. It attests that a product is manufactured in full compliance with the precepts of Islamic Law, does not include any forbidden components, and has not been in contact with any substances or objects considered impure.
The Halal shipment certificate must be issued under the SFDA Halal Center Certification Scheme by approved Halal certification bodies for clearance of the consignment (air, sea, or land) at Saudi ports and borders. The SFDA has emphasized that all importers of food products must ensure their Halal certificate and Halal shipment certificate are issued only by Halal certification bodies recognized by the SFDA’s Saudi Halal Center in the country of origin. The list of accredited certification bodies can be found on the SFDA website.
3- Halal Certification Process
The control and audit activities are carried out by audit teams comprising experienced experts in the certification of the specific sector and experts in Islamic law working in Halal certification bodies recognized by the SFDA’s Saudi Halal Center in the country of origin. The list of accredited certification bodies can be found on the SFDA website.
Halal certification requirements include the application of good hygiene practices and the adoption of an appropriate risk assessment and risk management system aimed at hygiene and health safety and compliance with Islamic law.
The certification procedure consists of an optional pre-audit, a certification audit, annual reviews, and re-certification every three years.
The auditing phase, where the core Halal program is established, can be divided into two parts: Documentation Audit and Facility Audit.
A- Documentation Audit
The key objectives of the documentation audit are to assess in detail the compliance of products and every single one of their ingredients with international Halal standards, and to evaluate the facility’s ability to produce Halal products while maintaining the integrity of the product’s Halal identity. Creating an internal Halal committee responsible for overseeing the Halal program is crucial.
Examples of documentation and information gathered include specification sheets for raw materials, sanitation SOPs, flow charts, contaminant identification, validated sanitation results, Halal certificates of vendors, the internal Halal committee formation document, and cross-contamination prevention plans.
B- Facility Audit
The facility audit’s key objectives are to train staff on Halal principles, verify their application, and identify any Halal Critical Control Points. The audit involves training members of the internal Halal committee on how to run a Halal program successfully, conducting a facility tour to identify unmitigated risk factors and discuss Halal Critical Control Points, and addressing any concerns at a closeout meeting while sharing key findings. Non-critical non-conformances are reported to the AHF certification committee. Certification is granted upon successful completion and notification of the audit to the certification committee.
Generally, companies will receive the following certification documents:
The license to use the Halal logo is granted, and the company may add products to its certification program at any time. The certificate is usually valid for one, two, or three years.
4- Mandatory Halal Certificates
The essential Halal certificates include:
A- Halal Slaughter Certificate
For consignments of whole carcasses, parts, and entrails of permissible animals such as cows, sheep, goats, camels, chickens, ostriches, poultry, birds, and rabbits. This applies to all carcasses, parts, and entrails of wild animals that are permissible to eat according to Islamic law and have not undergone any manufacturing processes except cutting and packaging.
B- Halal Certificate
Mandatory for various categories including the slaughtering of permissible animals (e.g., frozen or fresh whole carcasses and their parts, skins, etc. that have not undergone any process except packaging and cutting), meat processing (e.g., seasoned, canned, marinated, dried, cured, and chilled meat), animal extractions (e.g., gelatine, collagen, enzymes), compound products (e.g., products containing meat or parts of it like pies, pizza, candy, supplements, chocolate, sauce, cake), and other products labelled as Halal.
These certifications ensure products meet the rigorous standards set by the SFDA and are eligible for export to Saudi Arabia.
By adhering to these guidelines, companies can effectively navigate the Halal certification process, ensuring compliance and expanding their market presence in Saudi Arabia.
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