Important Update for Halal Certification Bodies and Manufacturers currently approved by the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technologies (MOIAT).
Upcoming regulation changes are set to take effect in quarter 3 of 2024, based on the circulation letter sent by MOIAT on the 7th of March.
As of the upcoming regulation changes set to take effect in quarter 3 of 2024, Halal Certification Bodies (HCB) must adhere to new directives that will influence how we manage Halal certification processes.
Part 1: Local Certification Mandate (no cross-border certification)
Halal Certification Bodies (HCB) must issue Halal certificates to clients within their own country.
Issuance of certificates to clients outside their country is permissible only if there is no HCB registered with MOIAT in the client’s country.
This includes meat and non-meat-based products and counts for Shipment and Factory certificates.
Part 2: Transferring Halal Certificates
6 months is granted to transfer all Halal certificates to a local HCB in the client’s country.
This means that if an HCB is certifying a company within a country where that HCB is not enlisted, then the Halal certificate is not valid and will be rejected.
Part 3: Selection of Accreditation Bodies
HCBs must select from approved Accreditation Bodies within their country.
The approved Accreditation Bodies can be found on www.moiat.gov.ae
If none are available or approved in that country, the HCB must select an Accreditation Body based in the UAE.
Part 4: Documentation Language
All documents and reports must be in English or multilingual (including English) to meet MOIAT’s standards for clarity and international comprehension.
Part 5: Submitting HCB Clients to MOIAT
All approved HCB must promptly submit an updated sheet of their certified clients to the conformity affairs department of MOIAT immediately after certification has been granted to a company to avoid any delay or rejection of shipments.
The status of HQC with MOIAT and the UAE
The Halal Quality Control Group is approved by MOIAT and accredited by UAE-based accreditation bodies.
Additionally, HQC has approval for multiple countries within the European region, ensuring a unique approach to coverage after the new regulation takes place in Q3 2024.
The list of approved HCB by MOIAT can be found here (includes both Accreditation and Certification bodies): MOIAT List
If you are currently based in a country where we are not operational or available, please contact us for assistance and support in advance.