UP Government Bans The Production And Use Of Halal Certified Products

The Yogi Adityanath government has banned the production, storage, sale and distribution of products with halal certifications with immediate effect in Uttar Pradesh. The order exempts the products meant for export.

Claiming that the move comes after a police case that found organisations ‘exploiting’ people’s religious sentiments to increase sales by ‘forging’ halal certificates, the UP government has said the halal certification creates an unnecessary parallel system which creates confusion amongst the quality of food items and is not tenable under section 89 Food Law Food Safety and Standards Act.

“Strict legal measures will be implemented against any individual or firm engaged in the production, storage, distribution, buying, and selling of Halal-certified medicines, medical devices, and cosmetics within Uttar Pradesh,” an official order said.

The case has been registered against entities such as the Halal India Private Limited Chennai, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust Delhi, Halal Council of India Mumbai, Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra and others for exploiting religious sentiments in the name of halal food.

Apart from food products, even cosmetics and medical products with a halal certification are included in the ban according to another UP order. 

“Action will be taken against the concerned person/firm under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and related rules,” the order read.

Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind Halal Trust’s Halal Certificates are recognized by various governments and authorities worldwide including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, SASO and all GCC countries. The total volume of the halal certified trade is a large $3.5 trillion industry, and India benefits from its promotion in exports and tourism, especially with trade partners in the OIC countries and Southeast Asia.

Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind Halal Trust CEO Niaz A. Farooqui has called the campaign against halal labels as ‘misleading’ and ‘unfavourable’ to the national interests, reasserting the global demand of halal products for tourists and exports.

“It is also a matter of choice of individuals and manufacturers preferring certain certifications for their own satisfaction based upon the credentials which the certifying authorities enjoy. It saves a large number of consumers from using products which they do not want for a variety of reasons and ensures availability of need based products in the market. Those who do not want to use such products are free not to use them,” they said in the statement. 

The Jamiat-Ulama-I-Hind have issued a clarification on X, formerly Twitter, regarding the use of Halal labels and certifications.