Applying for Halal Certification for Your Restaurant in the United Kingdom

3E Accounting offers a quick guide to applying for halal certification for your restaurant in the United Kingdom.

In the Arabic language, the word halal signifies something that is permissible, allowed, lawful, or official under Muslim religious laws. Its application in the food and beverage industry relates to food that is sourced, prepared and served in a halal way. The halal food industry in the United Kingdom was estimated at GBP1 billion in 2019. By the year 2025, the global halal food market is projected to reach USD9.71 trillion. A guide to applying for halal certification for your restaurant in the United Kingdom is helpful for entrepreneurs catering to this market segment.

 

The Process of Halal Certification

Setting up an F&B business in the United Kingdom is an excellent opportunity for culinary and food entrepreneurs. You can operate as a sole trader or limited company, running a full-service restaurant or a simple hawker stall. The F&B industry is highly regulated, and as long as you get all your licences and permits in order, you’re good to go.

In the United Kingdom, the number of Halal Certification Bodies (HCBs) are undefined as there is no single authorised body to oversee certification. Many local Muslim Food Boards regulate halal certification. The best course of action is to contact your local HCB representative.

Two HCBs have shown prominence as certification organisations in the United Kingdom, and they are:

• The Halal Food Authority (HFA) is an independent organisation recognised both internationally and nationally.
• The Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC), the largest certification organisation in the United Kingdom, specifically recognised by the Food Standards Agency.

To make sure that your restaurant is halal certified, you should prepare for official inspection and audit by ensuring that:

All consumables and products comply with the standards established by the Islamic Council.

• All standard operating procedures, storage and preparation areas, and utensils halal compliant.
• You do not serve alcohol, and there is no risk of alcohol contamination.
• You do not use or serve forbidden products or by-products, and that there is no risk of such contamination.
• Your produce is sourced from Halal suppliers, where applicable.
• All relevant documentation (such as a list of halal-certified suppliers, etc.) should be prepared and submitted with your application.

You can also check with the HCE pr the Department of Halal Certification Europe. It has a comprehensive guideline on halal food and certifications and international applications. Once your restaurant is halal-certified, the HCB will issue you with a halal label that you can display at your restaurant. It’s a good idea to get some website design and development done too. This will enable you to advertise your certification and increase awareness.

As this guide to applying for halal certification for your restaurant in the United Kingdom shows, getting halal certified is achievable. However, if you don’t fancy being bogged down with the details, get in touch with us. 3E Accounting provides comprehensive company formation packages that include getting certifications and ensuring full compliance. We are ready to do all the leg work so that you are free to focus on running your business. Our services are fully digitalised and provide innovative end-to-end solutions for all your business needs. Contact 3E Accounting today for customisable packages that will get your business future-ready.