Qatar launches a guide of halal food

Published in both Arabic and English, the guide provides the following: General definitions & requirements of halal food, animal slaughtering, related certification forms approved in Qatar, as well as a list of prohibited foods according to the Islamic Sharia law and halal-related standards.

According to health authorities, the guide that was issued by the Ministry of Public Health of Qatar, is described to be an “important milestone in food control.”

It was done so, to regulate and clarify requirements of importing halal food as well as Islamic bodies authorized to issue halal product and halal slaughtering certificates.

“Its importance lies in clarifying requirements of halal, and verifying validity, accuracy and credibility of halal certificates attesting that the meat, meat products, or foods containing meat are of animal origin that have been supervised by one of the issuers of halal certificates licensed by the State of Qatar,” the ministry said.

The guide also features application forms for authorizing Islamic bodies to issue halal food and slaughtering certificates for exporting food to the Gulf country.

According to the ministry, halal slaughtering certificates are issued for all types of non- processed meat, while halal certificates are issued for any food products containing meat, fats, or any ingredients of animal origin such as gluten, as well as food products carrying halal label.

The aim for the guideline is to raise awareness about requirements to ensure imported food compliance and avoid its rejection at the port of entry for non- compliance reasons. As such, the ministry’s Department of Food Safety and Environmental Health has invited importers, partners in food safety assurance, to register their food products in the registration system on the ministry’s website, to use data later, in a new electronic food control system.

Originally published on: gulfnews.com