I. Definition:
A written declaration / ruling (Fatwa) by American
Halal Foundation (AHF), stating the product is Halal and fit for Muslim
consumption anywhere in the world, based on auditing process performed by AHF.
II. Purpose:
·
To
ensure the product is Halal (Divinely lawful) and Tayyab (pure, wholesome, and
safe).
·
To
give assurance to the Muslim consumer that the product is halal, in fulfillment
to his/her (Islamic) religious obligation to consume Halal.
III. Principles:
·
Should
meet Islamic dietary standards
·
Should
comply with all rules of AHF
·
Should
fulfill all administrative requirements
·
Should
conform to all documentation requirements
·
Should
be able to set up, implement, and maintain Halal Assurance System to
sustain Halal status of the certified
product(s).
IV. Islamic Halal Dietary Standards:
·
All
materials should be halal.
·
There
are six categories of food that are Haram (Prohibited):
(Every thing is
Halal except ABCD IS Haram)
A: Alcohol
B: Blood
C: Carnivorous Animals and Birds
D: Dead Meat (Carrion)
I: Immolated Food to other deities other than Allah
S: Swine (Pork and Pork By-Products)
·
Haram
materials should be avoided at every step of the production process, including
in packaging, storage, transportation, and distribution.
·
Contamination
and cross contamination with haram material(s) must be avoided at every step of
production, storage, and distribution.
·
Should
follow Islamic cleaning and sanitizing procedures.
·
Integrity
of Halal product(s) must be maintained all the way from procurement of raw
materials through the production of finished product(s).
V. Registration:
(A) Processing Industry
i)
Producer
must register all the products that are produced in the
plant/facility/location, and/ or have the same brand.
ii)
Producer
must register all the raw materials/ingredients used in the production of each
of the products produced.
iii)
Producer
must register all the production facilities/plants, including toll
manufacturing / Co-packing / Re-packing / Re-labeling / Private-labeling
iv)
Audit
will be conducted at all the facilities/plants/locations where the product is
produced / handled / packed / re-labeled.
v)
Audit
will be conducted at critical material suppliers, if warranted.
vi)
Producer
must implement Halal Assurance System.
vii)
Toll
manufacturer must implement Halal Assurance System.
(B) Restaurant & Catering Service / Food Service
i)
Restaurants
/ Catering Service / Food Service must register all menu items.
ii)
Must
register all the ingredients / raw materials used in the preparation of all the
menu items.
iii)
Must
register all the outlets, kitchen, warehouses, and distribution agents.
iv)
Audit
will be conducted at all the facilities for all the menu items with all their
ingredients / raw materials.
VI. Process / Procedure of
Obtaining Halal Certificate:
·
Producer
should make a preliminary application requesting Halal supervision and
certification (See Application Form)
·
Producer
should submit a list of all the products produced by the company.
·
Producer
should submit a master list of all the raw materials / ingredients used in the
production of all the products produced at the facility / plant / location
(Spread Sheet of Matrix of Materials).
·
Producer
must identify products to be halal certified.
·
Producer
should submit a complete list of all the raw materials / ingredients used in
the production of each product to be halal certified (Spread Sheet of Matrix of
Materials).
·
Producer
should allow plant audit and inspection to assess facility for halal production.
·
Producer
must sign an agreement with AHF.
·
Producer
must set up Halal Assurance System (HAS) at the production facility / plant.
·
Producer
must appoint an Internal Halal auditor / Coordinator and a team who will be
responsible to implement the Halal Assurance System.
·
Producer
should submit six monthly (Biannual) report of Halal Assurance System
Implementation.
VII.
Auditing:
(A)
Scope of Auditing
i)
HAS
Implementation
ii)
Raw
material/Ingredient checking
iii)
Product
formulae checking
iv)
Warehouse
observation
v)
Production
observation
vi)
Cleaning
/ sanitation procedure checking
vii)
Laboratory
analysis (if any)
viii)
Packaging
/ labeling / storage / Transportation checking
(B)
Auditing Steps
1) Assessment of HAS
Implementation
a)
Evaluation
and Verification of halal management organization
b)
Evaluation
of Halal policy implementation
c)
Checking
and verifying documents of HAS implementation
d)
Orientation
of HAS to employees/staff
e)
Training
f)
Communication
g)
Internal
halal audit system
h)
Management
review of HAS
2) Raw Material Checking
a) Administration system of materials (coding system)
b) List of all raw materials, their suppliers,
sources of origin, halal certificates (if any). See the Spread Sheet of matrix
of Materials
c) Documentation of purchasing of all
materials
d) Verification of material documents
e) Identification of critical ingredients
3)
Product
Formulae Checking
a) Product formulae ID
numbers
b) Check raw materials / ingredients of product formulae
c) Production sheet
4) Warehouse Observation
a)
Check
system of goods receiving in the warehouse
b)
Check
system of storage of products / raw materials
c)
Check
possibility of co-mingling, mislabeling, contamination
d)
Check
material verification with documents
5) Production Observation
a) Check manufacturing/production flow chart
b) Check production lines
c) Identify critical points of co-mingling, contamination, cross contamination
d) Check record of products produced on halal
lines
e) Check product routing system
6) Cleaning / Sanitation Procedure
a) Check cleaning / sanitizing agents
b) Check cleaning / sanitizing procedure
c) Check disposal (of waste material) system Laboratory Analysis
a) Send samples to independent laboratory for checking critical raw
material(s) / ingredient(s), if necessary.
7)
Packaging
/ Labeling / Storage / Transportation
a)
Check
packaging material for contact surface to finished products
b)
Check
labeling is appropriate and accurate
c)
Check
storage system of halal products and non-halal products
d)
Check
logistic system of transportation
VIII)
Monitoring System
1)
Semi
annual report of Halal Assurance System (HAS) implementation
2)
Report
of every change of raw material, supplier, and production system
3)
Staff
Training
4) Unscheduled inspection
FLOW CHART
OF HALAL CERTIFICATION PROCESS