A company can begin by completing the applicable HQC application form, which is available in multiple languages.

The application should describe the company, production or service location, products, activities, intended certification scope, and relevant export markets.

You may directly submit your application form to info@halalqualitycontrol.com and our staff will contact you as soon as possible to follow up.

The exact documentation depends on the company’s activities, products, ingredients, risk classification and intended market.

Useful document: Material & Product Approval Guideline

Typical documents may include company registration details, site information, product lists, ingredient and raw-material specifications, supplier information, existing Halal certificates, process-flow diagrams, labels, cleaning procedures and traceability records.

Products containing animal-derived, insect-derived, alcohol-related or otherwise high-risk materials require approved Halal certification to be approved.

There is no single fixed duration for every application. 

The timeline depends on factors such as the number of sites and products, complexity of production, product risk, completeness of the documentation, audit availability, corrective actions, and destination-market requirements.

A well-prepared application with complete and accurate information can generally be processed more efficiently. HQC can provide a more realistic planning estimate after reviewing the application and certification scope.

Halal Quality Control (HQC) is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, and operates through a network of HQC offices and Authorized Partner Offices.

As of 2026, HQC has established locations in the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Poland, Greece, Romania, and Türkiye.

Useful link: HQC Ecosystem

Halal certification costs depend on the certification scope and cannot be determined accurately without reviewing the application. Relevant factors may include the number of sites, products and production lines, risk classification, audit duration, travel requirements, applicable Schemes and destination-market requirements.

Additional services such as shipment certification, supervision, training, and other services may be required in addition to the certification fees.

HQC therefore provides a tailored quotation after the initial application review.

A General or Factory Halal Certificate is issued for a defined validity period. Depending on the applicable authority, scope, and certification cycle, the validity may generally range from one to four years.

A General or Factory Halal Certificate confirms the approved certification scope of a production site, products, or services for a defined validity period.

A Halal Shipment Certificate applies to a specific shipment or consignment from an approved location. It normally identifies shipment-specific information and is valid only for that consignment.

A Halal Suitability Declaration or Halal Statement may confirm an assessment outcome or suitability status where appropriate. It does not replace mandatory Halal certification when a government, authority, Scheme, or risk classification requires a formal certificate.

See Supporting Documents for more details on Halal Certificates and Risk Classifications.

HQC certificates contain a QR code or validation information that links to the official HQC certificate-validation system. The portal can be used to verify the certificate’s authenticity, validity, and current recorded status of the certificate.

Users should verify certificates only through an authorized HQC website or validation portal and should contact HQC where information appears inconsistent, unavailable, or suspicious.

HQC holds various accreditations, recognitions, authorizations, and market-access arrangements. However, certificate acceptance can depend on the issuing HQC office, product category, certification scope, country of production, destination market, and current authority requirements.

Useful Document: HQC Global Accreditation Overview

Useful Link: HQC Accreditation

Yes. HQC provides support and certification for market-access requirements in several international markets.

Different markets may apply Malaysian Standards, BPJPH or SJPH requirements, GSO or UAE standards, HAK requirements, or other national rules. Additional registration, documentation, testing, labeling, or shipment certification may be required.

Useful Document: HQC Global Accreditation Overview

Useful Link: HQC Accreditation

No. Different HQC offices may hold different accreditations, recognitions, geographical permissions, and approved scopes.

An office that is accepted for one country, sector, or product category is not automatically accepted for every other market. HQC Headquarters reviews the intended certification and export requirements to determine the appropriate issuing office or certification route.

A Halal certificate may sometimes support access to more than one market, but this should never be assumed automatically. Countries and authorities may apply different standards, recognition lists, product scopes, border restrictions, registration requirements, or shipment-certificate rules.

Applicants should provide all intended export markets at the beginning of the application so that HQC can assess whether a single certificate is sufficient or additional arrangements are required.

HQC has a strong network of offices that may assist in obtaining additional certification for certain regions.

During a Halal audit, the auditor verifies whether the company’s documented information and practical operations meet the applicable Halal requirements. The assessment may include raw materials, suppliers, production processes, storage, cleaning, segregation, traceability, labeling, staff competence, and internal Halal controls.

The auditor normally conducts an opening meeting, reviews documentation, inspects relevant areas and processes, records objective evidence, and presents the findings during a closing meeting. 

The audit report is then submitted for review and certification decision.

When a nonconformity is identified, the company is normally required to investigate the cause, implement corrections and corrective actions, and provide suitable evidence to HQC.

Depending on the seriousness of the issue, HQC may request additional documentation, laboratory testing, a follow-up assessment, or other verification. 

Certification cannot be granted or maintained where significant unresolved issues affect Halal integrity or compliance with applicable requirements.

You may view or download the Halal Control Points Guideline from our Supporting Documents page.    HQC provides guidance on control points that are relevant to multiple sectors: Foods, beverages, cosmetics, chemicals, consumer goods, and pharmaceuticals.

Yes. HQC has a guideline called ‘E-Number Halal Status’, which is available upon request and for HQC customers.

Yes. HQC has a guideline that lists chemicals (including flavors and fragrances) that are exempted from Halal certification and that do not require documentation. 

This document is available upon request and is accessible to HQC customers.

Ethanol originating from an alcoholic beverage or another prohibited source is generally not acceptable. Ethanol produced from a permissible source and used for a legitimate technical purpose, such as extraction, flavour preparation, cleaning, or processing, may be considered subject to an assessment and the applicable Halal standards.

Applicants must declare all ethanol-containing raw materials, carriers, solvents and processing aids and provide sufficient specifications, production information and supporting evidence. Approval must be obtained from HQC before such materials are used within a certified scope.

Useful document: Ethanol Policy

A company should ensure that its application, product scope, and supporting documentation are complete, accurate, and up to date before the audit.

One way to be optimally prepared is by following an awareness session with HQC Academy.

Another way is by filling in the checklist in advance to understand the scope of the assessment. This checklist is available upon request and is usually sent before assessments take place.

A Halal standard defines technical and religious requirements for products, processes, services and certification activities. It may address ingredients, production, cleaning, segregation, traceability, slaughtering, labelling and other Halal control requirements.

A Halal standard states the applicable requirements and is used as a reference. 

An HQC Scheme explains how those requirements are applied within the HQC certification process, including application, assessment, auditing, decision-making, surveillance, and certification.

HQC may apply various Halal standards. The applicable references depend on the certification scope and intended market.

Useful document: Halal Standards and Schemes Overview

Manufacturing and production companies generally fall under the Halal Assurance Program Scheme. These Schemes cover the certification process and the company’s internal Halal control system.

Yes. HQC has a guideline that lists chemicals (including flavors and fragrances) that are exempted from Halal certification and that do not require documentation. 

This document is available upon request and is accessible to HQC customers.

Logistics and service providers generally fall under the Halal Service Providers Scheme.

These Schemes cover the certification process and the company’s internal Halal control system.

Yes. The HQC Cosmetics and Personal Care Scheme addresses ingredients, formulations, processing, packaging, alcohol use, contamination risks and product-specific requirements for cosmetics and personal-care products.

Public Schemes, executive summaries, and supporting documents may be available through the HQC website. Restricted or detailed Schemes may be provided upon request or after contractual arrangements.

Halal Quality Control, commonly known as HQC, is an international Halal certification group that provides certification, auditing, supervision, training, and compliance services to companies across various sectors.

HQC operates through its headquarters and a network of recognized branch offices and Authorized Partner Offices (APO).

The global headquarters of Halal Quality Control is located in The Hague, the Netherlands.                          HQC Headquarters manages and supervises the group’s central certification framework, brand, schemes, procedures, certificates, digital systems, and official documentation.

The legal company name is Control Office of Halal Slaughtering and Halal Quality Control B.V. which is incorporated in The Netherlands.

HQC Headquarters in the Netherlands manages the HQC brand, certification Schemes, Halal certificates, quality documentation, e-portal systems, and central procedures.

Local HQC offices operate within this framework and must comply with the applicable HQC rules, authorizations, and contractual arrangements.

An HQC Authorized Partner Office, or APO, is an independently registered organization formally authorized by HQC Headquarters to operate under the HQC brand within an approved territory or service scope.

Authorized Partner Offices must follow HQC’s Schemes, procedures, policies, systems, and brand requirements. 

Yes. HQC has a guideline that lists chemicals (including flavors and fragrances) that are exempted from Halal certification and that do not require documentation. 

This document is available upon request and is accessible to HQC customers.

HQC Academy is the training and awareness-making division of Halal Quality Control.

It provides Halal awareness, competency development, Scheme training, and market-specific education for companies, auditors, personnel, partners, and other interested parties.

Yes. HQC APO may operate through individual and external websites that are accessible in its region of operations.

The main website is www.halalqualitycontrol.com

HQC Headquarters can be contacted through the Contact Page, telephone, WhatsApp Business or the general HQC email address.

Companies seeking certification should provide information about their activities, products, production location and intended export markets so that the appropriate HQC office and certification route can be identified.