Tampa, September 11, 2026. The American Halal Foundation (AHF) has received accreditation from the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) and the Saudi Halal Center, which operates under the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). With this decision, halal certificates issued by AHF are accepted for products exported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the approved scope.
Saudi Arabia only accepts halal certificates from certification bodies that its authorities have reviewed and approved. That review looks at how a body is governed, who sits on its Sharia board, how its auditors are trained and supervised, how it handles slaughter and ingredient controls, and whether its procedures line up with Saudi and GCC halal standards.
AHF Can Facilitate U.S Exports to Saudi Arabia
For companies that already hold AHF certification, the main change is a shorter path into the Saudi market. An AHF certificate can now be presented to Saudi customs and the SFDA without the exporter having to bring in a second certification body for the same product. That saves a parallel audit, a second set of fees, and the weeks that usually go into coordinating two certifiers.
Companies that are new to halal certification and are planning to sell into the Gulf can also start with AHF and use the same certificate for Saudi Arabia, as well as for the other markets where AHF is already recognized.
“Saudi Arabia is one of the largest halal import markets in the world, and its authorities are careful about which certifiers they approve. We are honored to be one of the very few approved bodies in the world and in the United States” said Azmi Anees, Head of International Affairs at AHF
Significance of the Saudi Halal Approval
The Kingdom imports a large share of the food it consumes, and halal compliance is a condition of entry for meat, poultry and many processed foods. Products that carry a halal claim must be backed by a certificate from a body the Saudi authorities accept. When a certifier is not on that list, shipments can be held, relabeled or refused, and exporters lose time and money at the border.
Recognition also matters outside Saudi Arabia in the greater Gulf region as buyers, distributors and importers look to Saudi approval as a reference when they decide which certificates to accept from suppliers in the United States and elsewhere.
About the American Halal Foundation
The American Halal Foundation (AHF) is a US-based halal certification organization serving food, ingredient, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and consumer goods manufacturers in North America and around the world. AHF audits and certifies products and facilities against international halal standards, and its certificates are recognized by all major halal authorities.
AHF also works alongside its affiliated certification body, Carat Global Assurance (CGA) for integrated audits, which is accredited by ANAB under ISO/IEC 17065. Learn more at halalfoundation.org.
