India has introduced new policy guidelines for export of halal meat and its products, set to take effect from October 16. The guidelines, announced by Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on Tuesday, apply to fresh and frozen meat of bovine animals, sheep, and goats.
Under new regulations, exports of specified halal meat and meat products will only be permitted to 15 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Bangladesh if they are produced or processed in facilities certified under the ‘India Conformity Assessment Scheme (I-CAS) – Halal’ by the Quality Council of India (QCI). Exporters must provide valid halal certificates to buyers in the importing countries after shipment. Other countries covered by these new guidelines include Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, and Turkey.
The move is part of India’s broader efforts to ensure that halal meat products adhere to Islamic dietary laws. Halal certification guarantees that food is prepared in accordance with Islamic law, free from prohibited ingredients such as certain animal by-products. The global halal food market, valued at $1.97 trillion in 2021, is expected to reach $3.9 trillion by 2027.
Last November, Uttar Pradesh government banned the production and sale of halal-certified products within the state. However, restrictions do not apply to items intended for export.
