FIANZ Halal – Frequently Asked Questions

Halal is an Arabic word that means “permitted” and is used by Muslims to describe the foods and actions that are in accordance with the Islamic faith. The requirement of Muslims to eat food that is Halal is directed through the Holy Book, the Qur’an (Chapter V, verse 3).

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which has been invoked the name of other than Allah.”

The most critical aspects of classifying food as Halal relates to the proper slaughtering of animals for meat and the absence of Pork and Alcohol products.

Haram is also an Arabic word and is the opposite of Halal. Haram means forbidden.

Muslims are permitted to eat and use products that are vegetable based. All sea products are also permitted for consumption without restriction. For all land animals and their products, the following are some of the general guidelines:

Animals that are acceptable for slaughtering for consumption by Muslims are generally beef, lamb, buffalo, deer, cattle, camels and giraffe. Permitted birds include turkey, chicken, ducks, fowl, hen, geese, and pheasants. Milk from acceptable animals and eggs from acceptable birds are considered Halal and can be consumed.

For meat to be classified as Halal, they have to go through the process of Dhabiha (proper Islamic slaughtering process). This process requires the acknowledgement of the animal as a creation of Allah (God). Care must be taken to reduce pain and suffering to the animal to be slaughtered.

Furthermore, the animal must be physically slaughtered by a religiously observant Muslim who at the immediate moment of slaughter must recite “Tasmiyah” and “Takbir” blessings over each individual animal. A sharp instrument (e.g. Metal Knife) must be used that minimises the suffering to the animal.

The most notable exclusion from the above list of meat sources is pork. Pork and all pork derived ingredients that come from swine is considered Haram (unlawful).

Also excluded are all animals considered “beasts of prey” such as lions, wolves, dogs, cats, etc. These exclusions also cover birds of prey and their eggs as well.

ALCOHOL AND ALCOHOL BY-PRODUCTS

Alcohol means ethyl alcohol. All products containing alcohol or alcohol by-products are prohibited in Islam. Any product that contains wine, beer, sherry, port, etc. or its by-product as an ingredient is unacceptable.

The only exception is vinegar which may be derived from ethyl alcohol.

FISH AND SEAFOOD

Fish and seafood are generally considered Halal and acceptable. These do not need to undergo the Islamic slaughtering process. However, fish shall not be made to suffer in any way and must be left to die itself.

DAIRY PRODUCTS

Dairy products like milk, yogurt, cheese and ice-cream are acceptable provided they do not contain any ingredient that may render it non-Halal eg: gelatin in yogurt or ice cream and rennet in cheese, unless these ingredients are derived from Halal sources.

BAKED GOODS

Baked goods have the potential of having ingredients that may be derived from non-Halal sources i.e. fats, shortenings, cream fillings, emulsifiers, etc. Ingredients used in baked goods must be from certified Halal sources.

OILS AND FATS

Fats must be derived from Halal-slaughtered animals. Extraction and processing of both fats and vegetable oils must not involve contamination with non-Halal fats, ingredients, additives or processing aids.

PREPARED AND PROCESSED FOODS

Prepared and processed foods contain multiple ingredients and involve various steps to identify whether these are Halal or non-Halal.

Halal certification is a formal process in which an approved Islamic authority (such as FIANZ Halal) inspects and supervises the production of food, ingredients, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other consumables to verify they meet Islamic requirements.
Certification is granted only after the facility, ingredients, processes, and hygiene systems comply fully with halal standards.

Halal certification allows producers to access the rapidly expanding global Halal market of over 1.9 billion Muslims, as well as millions of non-Muslims who prefer Halal products due to their cleanliness, ethical production, and transparency. Certified products also gain the trust of importers, regulators, and trading partners.

Businesses certified by FIANZ Halal benefit from:

• Expert review of products, ingredients, processes, and sanitation
• Implementation of internationally aligned halal procedures (HACCP, ISO, Codex etc.)
• Training of key personnel on halal handling and production
• Technical support for product development and halal compliance
• Permission to use the FIANZ Halal logo
• Recognition by key international halal authorities
• Listing in FIANZ Halal directories and publications
• Support in accessing halal markets globally

The halal market is one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors, driven by:

• 1.9 billion Muslims globally
• A growing preference for clean, ethical, and traceable food
• Strong demand from regions such as Southeast Asia, Middle East, Africa, and Europe
• Increasing interest from health-conscious consumers, regardless of religion

Muslims number over 2.05 billion, representing a quarter of the world’s population. Following are estimated Muslim populations in:

• New Zealand   - 70,000
• Australia  - 830,000
• Singapore  - 500,000
• Germany  - 6 million
• France - 7 million
• England  - 4.5 million
• USA  - 4 million

Halal certification in New Zealand is currently used by exporters who market their goods in the Middle East and other Muslim countries. Other companies, wishing to take advantage of the growing Muslim population in New Zealand and Australia, also get Halal certification to gain a better share of the domestic market.

FIANZ Halal can assist manufacturers in locating approved Halal-certified raw materials and ingredients. Using Halal-certified inputs is essential to ensure the final product qualifies for Halal certification.

Quality systems like ISO 9001 complement halal requirements by promoting consistent manufacturing practices. However, ISO certification alone does not make a product halal. Halal requirements must be applied on top of existing quality systems.

FIANZ Halal certifies products in accordance with internationally recognised halal standards, including (but not limited to):
• SMIIC Standards
• JAKIM (Malaysia)
• MUIS (Singapore)
• GSO/UAE
• BPJPH (Indonesia)
Certification under other recognised schemes may also be available based on client needs.

Certification fees vary depending on:

• Number of products and production lines
• Complexity of manufacturing processes
• Facility size, staffing, and HACCP plans
• Frequency of audits required
• Additional compliance requirements from importing countries

Typical cost categories include registration fees, audit fees, and per-product listing fees.

Yes. Certification may be declined if:

• A business fails to comply with Halal standards
• Documentation is incomplete
• Processes or ingredients do not meet Islamic requirements
• A company does not uphold its responsibilities under the certification agreement

To maintain certification:

• Clients must remain compliant with halal requirements
• FIANZ Halal may conduct surveillance audits
• Changes in ingredients, suppliers, or processes must be reviewed
• Extensions to certification must be formally requested
• Renewal must be completed prior to expiry

Suspension may occur if:

• The facility fails to meet halal requirements
• The company refuses surveillance audits
• The client requests temporary suspension

Withdrawal may occur if:

• Suspension issues are not resolved
• Terms of certification are breached
• The company requests withdrawal

Scope reduction may occur if:

• Certain products no longer meet requirements
• The client asks to limit their certification scope

All decisions related to granting, suspending, withdrawing, or renewing certification are reviewed by the FIANZ Halal Certification Committee. Clients are notified immediately if any decision affects their certification status.

FIANZ Halal welcomes client inquiries and is committed to transparency.
Businesses may submit:

• General questions
• Formal complaints
• Appeals regarding certification decisions

via the official FIANZ Halal contact email or via website portal.

FIANZ Halal maintains strict impartiality and has systems in place to identify and eliminate conflicts of interest, ensuring fairness and integrity throughout the certification process.