Riyadh-Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Arabia eyes to be a leading global center for the halal product industry, bolstered by its unique status as the birthplace of Islam, earning the trust of around 2 billion Muslims around the globe. The incomparable position Saudi Arabia enjoys, imbues its halal regulations and certifications with a high degree of religious authenticity and credibility, making them highly respected and sought after worldwide.

Yousuf Khalawi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, highlighted the significant regulations overseeing the production and certification of halal products in Saudi Arabia in an interview with Arab News.

He stressed that key regulatory bodies governing the halal industry in the Kingdom include the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, and the Saudi Accreditation Center.

Khalawi added that the Saudi government regulates the halal market using the Gulf Standardization Organization (GSO 2055-1:2015), which sets the general requirements for halal food throughout the production chain, further pointing that companies that deal in halal products need to be certified for compliance with Saudi standards by Saudi accredited conformity assessment bodies.

The official also said that while many countries have other halal standards and regulations, the Islamic Chamber’s halal conferences, held around the world,  strive to pave the way for businesses to navigate such different standards and regulatory requirements.

Notably, the Makkah and Madinah chambers, along with the Islamic Chamber, signed the Manafea agreement in 2022, which aims to transform the two holy cities into hubs for financial and business activities in the Islamic world.

From another perspective, he said, Saudi Arabia is a major consumer and investor in the halal industry. This gives the country significant influence in shaping the global halal market and that is why the Halal Product Development Company was the strategic partner sponsoring Makkah Halal Forum.

Khalawi shed light on the strategies Saudi Arabia has employed to take its halal products to international markets, saying that the Saudi Halal Center and its collaboration with the Saudi Exports Development Authority streamline the certification process for exporters.