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Halal Certification in India Explained
Halal certification in India is issued by a private certification body, not by the government and not by FSSAI. The one statutory halal framework is the DGFT and QCI i-CAS Halal regime for meat exports. We help you prepare the documents and application for the certification body you choose.
Government fee for a domestic certificate: None
Statutory halal regime: Meat exports to listed countries
StampMitra fee: from ₹9,899 professional fee
What halal certification is in India
India has no single statutory halal authority and no general halal law. A halal certificate is a private religious-compliance attestation issued by a certification body. It is not a government licence.
Who needs a halal certificate
Required by Indian law / Asked for by buyers / Not required
Required by Indian law
Asked for by buyers
Not required
The DGFT rules for halal meat exports
Check the live list of accredited certification bodies on the QCI i-CAS Halal portal before you choose one.
Facility: The product must come from a facility certified under i-CAS Halal by a certification body accredited by NABCB.
Certificate: The exporter must provide a halal certificate from an NABCB-accredited certification body. Where the importing country has its
Countries: The October 2024 notification listed 15 importing countries: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait
Monitoring: APEDA is the monitoring agency, and units also register with APEDA.
Other meat exports: Meat exports that are not labelled halal are outside these conditions.
What it costs
Item, Amount, Notes
Government fee for a domestic halal certificate: None
Certification body audit and certificate fee: Set by each certification body
i-CAS Halal facility certification for meat exports: Not published by QCI
FSSAI licence or registration: See our FSSAI pages
StampMitra professional fee: from ₹9,899
What certification bodies commonly ask for
The list depends on the certification body. No law requires a digital signature, notarisation or attestation, though some bodies ask for a signed undertaking or affidavit. We confirm the list with your chosen body.
Business proof
PAN and GST certificate
FSSAI licence or registration
Ingredient and additive list
Process flow chart
Processing aids and cleaning agents list
How certification typically works
There is no government process for a domestic certificate. This is the usual process of a certification body.
Timing, validity and where the rules differ
Question, Answer
How long does it take?: No statutory timeline applies to a domestic certificate. The time depends on the certification body and on how soon
How long is it valid?: The certification body sets the validity. One year with surveillance is common.
Meat exports: The facility must hold i-CAS Halal certification through an NABCB-accredited body, and the certificate must come from such a
Selling halal-certified food in Uttar Pradesh: Uttar Pradesh issued a notification on 18.11.2023 under section 30(2) of the Food Safety and
What applies without a certificate
Situation, What applies
Domestic sale of food: No Indian law penalises the absence of a halal certificate.
Meat export to a listed country: The DGFT export-policy conditions require i-CAS Halal certification and a certificate from an
A buyer or importer that asks for one: The buyer can decide not to buy without a certificate it accepts. This is a commercial position, not
A halal claim on a label: Make the claim only for what the certificate covers. A label that does not match the certified scope is a common
Common reasons certification stalls
An ingredient of unknown or non-halal source, such as gelatin, alcohol-based flavour carriers or animal-derived enzymes.
An ingredient of unknown or non-halal source, such as gelatin, alcohol-based flavour carriers or animal-derived enzymes.
Missing supplier halal declarations, or unclear traceability.
Shared lines or utensils with no cleaning protocol, or cross-contamination in storage or transport.
Non-conformities not closed after the audit.
Label claims that do not match the certified scope.
Choosing a certification body that the buyer's country does not accept.
What StampMitra does for you
StampMitra is a filing assistance platform. We do not issue halal certificates, and we are not the government or a law firm.
Documentation
Document verification
Application and follow-ups
How it works
Choose a certification body Pick a body your buyer or importing country accepts. For meat exports it must be NABCB-accredited under i-CAS Halal.
Apply with documents Submit the application with business proof, ingredient and process details and your FSSAI licence or registration.
Audit Technical and Shariah auditors audit the facility.
Close corrective actions Resolve any non-conformities the audit finds.
Receive the certificate The body issues a certificate with its scope, and surveillance audits follow.
Frequently asked questions
Is halal certification mandatory in India?
No, except for the export of specified meat and meat products to the countries covered by the DGFT export-policy conditions.
Who issues a halal certificate?
Private certification bodies. For meat exports, the body must be accredited by NABCB under the i-CAS Halal scheme.
Does FSSAI give halal certificates?
No. FSSAI does not issue halal certification. An FSSAI licence or registration is a separate food-safety authorisation.
Is the certificate accepted worldwide?
Acceptance depends on the importing country and on which certification bodies it approves. No certificate is universal.
Can I sell halal-certified food in Uttar Pradesh?
Uttar Pradesh issued a notification in November 2023 restricting the manufacture, storage, distribution and sale of halal-certified food products in the State, with products for export excluded. It has been challenged in the Supreme Court and we found no final judgment, so check its current status before selling halal-labelled food there. If you plan to sell there, our team reviews your case before anything is filed.
Do I need an FSSAI licence first?
A food business needs an FSSAI licence or registration by law, and most certification bodies also ask for it.
How long is a halal certificate valid?
The certification body sets it, and one year with surveillance is common.
Does a non-Muslim owner qualify?
Yes. Ownership is neither required nor sufficient.
Are cosmetics and medicines covered?
Only by private schemes. No statutory scheme covers halal cosmetics or medicines.
Will a certificate help me export to the Gulf?
A recognised certificate is usually necessary, but the certification body must be accepted by the destination country. For meat, the DGFT conditions also apply.
What does your service cost?
Our professional fee starts from ₹9,899. The certification body's audit and certificate fee is separate and is set by the body.