Halal certification for UK meat processors and exporters

According to the 2021 UK’s population and housing census, Muslims account for 6.5% of the population of England and Wales. However, an estimated 30% of the lamb produced in the UK is sold to halal consumers.

They also consume much of the mutton produced by UK farmers. Therefore, the halal market is an important sector of the meat industry. Outside the UK market, there are opportunities for trading in halal meat in the EU, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas and Asia.

Meat processors looking to access the halal market need a recognised assurance system to demonstrate to halal consumers and the Muslim authorities in importing countries that their production processes have met the prerequisite halal rules. Research has shown that halal certification is a major factor in halal meat purchasing intentions.

The initial requirement of assurance is the use of a halal certificate. Meat processors can also use the Demonstration of Life (DoL) protocol to assure halal consumers that the method of stunning being used is non-lethal and can therefore be generally considered as halal.

Apart from the domestic market, halal certification is also required to export meat to halal markets in Europe, Africa, the Americas, Asia and Muslim-majority countries in the Middle East.

AHDB aims to provide meat processors and exporters with the information they require to increase consumer confidence in their products.

Further information on the halal market can be obtained by contacting AHDB’s Senior Halal Manager (awal.fuseini@ahdb.org.uk).

Halal market size

Population

Population of Muslims in England and Wales: 3.9 million (6.5%)

Purchasing power

Halal consumers account for 30% of lamb purchases (volume of lamb produced in the UK)

Frequency of consumption

Halal consumers: 80% consume lamb at least once a week

General population: 6% eat lamb at least once a week

Total spend per month (on lamb in the UK)

Halal consumers: £49.20

General consumers: £19.46

Total spent on halal meat in 2023

£823m

Key opportunities for meat processors

Our recent research found that meat processors looking to tap into the halal sector must consider the following.

Religious festivals

Halal meat consumption peaks during key religious festivals. We produced a booklet to guide processors on one of the key festivals, Eid al-Adha, and its associated ritual, qurbani.

Independent butchers

Most halal consumers purchase their meat through independent halal butchers, so it is important for butchers to continue to offer this service to consumers. To attract younger consumers, butchers should improve their meat counter displays and incorporate halal certification.

Provenance

We found that provenance is a major determinant of halal purchasing intentions. Processors and retailers can use provenance to highlight British standards in quality, animal welfare and sustainability.

Meat range

Retailers can attract halal consumers by offering a wide range of meat cuts.

Cooking from scratch

Most Muslim households prepare meals from scratch. Retailers should consider providing consumers with information on cuts and recipes to encourage meat purchases and home cooking.

Key halal markets

Meat processors looking to access the halal market should consider developing relationships with buyers in the countries listed below.

Source: Statista, 2024

Halal certification

Benefits of halal certification

While AHDB has no influence on halal certification, we recognise its importance for meat businesses.

Halal certifiers inspect meat-processing sites to ensure halal meat production requirements are met. Halal consumers require assurance that their dietary rules have been met by processors.  

Meat exporters also require halal export certificates to access certain markets around the world. Halal certification is therefore vital in accessing new markets and increasing sales.

However, meat processors should choose halal certification bodies carefully. They should ask the following questions:

• Is the certifier approved for all markets you are looking to access?
• Does the certifier have sufficient skills and expertise to cover the scope of all your products?
• Is the certification fee cost-effective for your business?
• Are your slaughter and welfare protocols consistent with the certifier’s standard?
• Consumers in certain markets only recognise specific certifiers. Does the certifier’s halal standard meet the requirements of your target market?

UK halal certification bodies

As highlighted earlier, AHDB does not have any influence on UK halal certifiers. However, we do work with them to increase awareness of market opportunities and challenges.

Below is a list of some of the main UK halal certifiers and their acceptability of halal-compatible stunning.

This is to guide meat processors when choosing a suitable halal certification body, and it remains essential to ensure a certifier is chosen carefully to meet your business needs. Always confirm in writing with the certifier about the markets they are approved for.

Use of halal certifier’s logo

Halal certification in the UK is a voluntary scheme aimed at increasing market reach. It also helps businesses diversify their markets. Meat processors, if halal-approved, can usually use the registered logo/mark of the halal certifier. The logo is useful in communicating the halal status of a product to local consumers or importers.

The following are logos of some UK halal certifiers.

Generic halal logo

The logos are all trademarked and registered by their respective certification bodies. Meat processors and exporters cannot use these logos without explicit permission from the certifier. Alternatively, meat processors can use a generic halal logo on their products to communicate the halal status of products to consumers. The generic halal logo (see below) is not registered to any particular certifier.

However, it must be reiterated that most importing countries have labelling rules that forbid the use of the generic halal logo. They may specify the use of the certifier’s logo or a logo registered by the importing country. Always check with the certifier and follow the rules of the importing countries.

Accredited and non-accredited certifiers

The UK has more than 20 halal certification bodies. Certificates issued by these certifiers may be accepted by UK consumers. However, only a handful of certifiers are approved to issue halal export certificates to countries in the Middle East, Malaysia, Turkey, Indonesia, etc. Therefore, when choosing a certifier, meat processors must ensure certifiers are approved for their target market(s) and can issue valid halal export certificates.

Demonstration of Life (DoL) scheme

Most animals slaughtered for the halal market in the UK are stunned before bleeding. Reversible or recoverable stunning is the main method of stunning generally approved for halal slaughter. This requires the method of stunning to be effective but non-lethal.

The NFU, AHDB, University of Bristol, halal certification bodies and stakeholders from the meat industry, collaboratively, under the chairmanship of The Lord Trees, developed the DoL scheme for sheep slaughter. Under the scheme, sheep abattoirs can demonstrate to the Muslim community that head-only electrical stunning of sheep is non-lethal and reversible. DoL is open to all abattoirs and aimed at assuring proponents of halal stunning that head-only electrical stunning is consistent with their dietary laws.

It must be reiterated that AHDB does not support a particular method of slaughter. Our aim is to develop the halal sector in general.

Halal certification procedure

Meat processors looking to access the halal market may be keen to know what is involved in halal certification, and the following is a general guide to the process. Please note that some certifiers may require a different certification procedure.

1. Initial enquiry made/application submitted.
2. Application processed by certifier.
3. Certification fee, scope of products and auditing schedule agreed.
4. Audit date and schedule agreed between both parties.
5. Post-audit activities: Documentation review and addressing of any non-conformances.
6. Certifier communicates audit decision: Pass/fail.
7. If processor passes, certifier will agree ongoing supervision or auditing schedule.

Halal Food Information Centre (HFIC)

Some halal stakeholders in the UK came together to form the Halal Food Information Centre (HFIC). HFIC’s mandate is to provide evidence-based information to processors and members of the general public on halal. If you are a processor who requires support to disseminate information to your buyers or consumers, please contact HFIC. They can also support you in defending the reputation of the halal sector around animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

Education and training

UK meat processors looking for training can enrol on several courses. We have an award-winning Meat Education Programme and Meat Masterclass course. You can register for the Meat Masterclass course by contacting siobhan.slayven@ahdb.org.uk

If you want halal-specific training, the Centre of Excellence in Halal Compliance and Training (CEHCT) offers an FDQ and Highfield-accredited halal training course for the meat industry (cehct.co.uk).

Our Knowledge Exchange team can also provide you with all the information you need on livestock agriculture.