Halal and Kosher Certification: Access Islamic and Jewish Markets
Open new markets with halal and kosher certification in food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and logistics. IgeraIndustria answers on ingredient requirements, processes, audits and target markets.
$2T
Global halal market in 2024. Growing at 10%+ annually driven by expanding middle class in Muslim-majority countries.
25M
Muslim consumers in the EU demanding halal-certified products in food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
4
Main sectors: food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and logistics. Halal certification is required in all of them to export to GCC markets.
Frequently asked questions — Halal and Kosher Certification
What requirements must a product meet to be halal certified?
To obtain halal certification, the product and its manufacturing process must comply with Islamic law (Sharia) principles. The main requirements are: absence of pork and its derivatives in any ingredient or additive; absence of ethyl alcohol as an ingredient or solvent; if it contains meat, it must come from animals slaughtered according to the Islamic ritual (dhabiha); production equipment must not be contaminated with haram (prohibited) products; and the cleaning process (taharah) must be verified. The international reference standards are OIC/SMIIC OIC-HAS 24000 (for OIC countries) and the Codex Alimentarius guidelines CAC/GL 24-1997.
What is the difference between halal and kosher?
Halal and kosher are religious certification systems of different origins: halal is based on Islamic law and kosher on Jewish law (Kashrut). The main differences are: kosher prohibits mixing meat and dairy in the same product or production process (pareve = neutral); halal has no such restriction but prohibits alcohol more strictly than kosher; animal slaughter methods are similar but with different rituals (dhabiha for halal, shechita for kosher); kosher requires supervision by a certified rabbi (mashgiach) during production. A product can be simultaneously halal and kosher if it meets both standards.
Which markets require halal certification for export?
The main markets requiring halal certification for importing food products are: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman (GCC), Malaysia and Indonesia (with their own national standards: JAKIM and MUI respectively), Turkey, Morocco and the rest of North Africa. For the European market, halal certification is increasingly demanded by the Muslim population resident in Europe (estimated at 25 million in the EU). Products must comply with destination-country halal standards, which vary: Gulf countries often require Gulf Accreditation Centre (GAC) recognition, while Malaysia requires JAKIM recognition.
Which sectors can obtain halal certification beyond food?
Halal certification applies to multiple sectors beyond food: cosmetics and personal care (animal-derived ingredients such as collagen, elastin, keratin or glycerin must be from a halal source); pharmaceuticals (excipients such as gelatin, alcohol in syrups or porcine gelatin capsules); logistics and storage (halal warehouses for safe transport and storage without cross-contamination); and hospitality (restaurants, hotels and catering services with halal seal). The global halal market exceeds USD 2 trillion annually and is growing at rates above 10% per year.