What does halal certified mean in Australia?

• February 5, 2024
• Barry Herman
• 0 comments

In Australia, halal certification signifies that food or products comply with Islamic dietary laws as defined by the Quran and Hadith, making them permissible or “halal” for Muslim consumption. This includes not only food but also any aspect of life that can be covered by Islamic teachings. The certification process is voluntary and involves evaluating whether the production process and ingredients of a particular product meet halal standards. This can apply to individual products, production facilities, or retail premises.

The halal certification process in Australia is managed by various certifying organizations. They ensure that strict standards regarding the use of ingredients, the processing methods, and the handling of food are met before certifying products as halal. For meat to be considered halal, for example, it must come from animals that were healthy at the time of slaughter and were killed in a specific manner that includes reciting a prayer. The debate exists within the Muslim community regarding whether meat from animals stunned before slaughter can be considered halal, although pre-slaughter stunning is practiced in much of halal slaughter in Australia to meet animal welfare concerns.

Certification is important both for Muslim consumers who wish to adhere to their dietary laws and for producers who want to market their products domestically and internationally in countries where halal food is in demand. Despite some public debate and misconceptions, the halal certification process is designed to ensure food meets Islamic dietary laws and does not, contrary to some claims, fund extremism or impact the cost of food significantly for consumers.

Read More: A Quick Guide to Halal Certification by Parliament Australia

All of our meat sold at A Place 2 Meat is halal certified.