Halal Certification for Private Label Brands

Contract manufacturers make products that run the gamut of startups to established internationally recognized brands. Specifically, a contract manufacturer may yield better cost structures, higher scalability, better supply chain efficiency, and consistent quality. Among these benefits is the manufacturer’s handling of regulatory requirements & quality assurance, who may have wide-ranging know-how in this regard.

When it comes to Halal certification, working with a 3rd party manufacturer poses a unique set of circumstances requiring all stakeholders’ teamwork to ensure Halal integrity is maintained throughout the process. This short article offers a summary on navigating the criteria of qualification for Halal, the process of certification, a description of the certification licensing situation, and the benefits of acquiring Halal certification.

Qualification

The qualification of a product comes down to two fundamental elements:

1. The product
2. The production facility

The Product

The first element of qualification pertains to the product. Then, through documentation and data-gathering on the raw materials/ingredients, AHF’s technical team determines whether the product will qualify for Halal or not.

The main criteria of evaluation are the product be free from:

1. Ethanol Residuals above 5000 parts per million
2. Animal derivates besides milk & honey

The Production Facility

The second element of qualification pertains to the production facility. For the facility to qualify for Halal certification, it must have protocols and standard operating procedures that ensure the integrity of the Halal identity of the product(s) is maintained at every stage of the process.

In terms of the assessment of the facility, AHF looks to integrate with existing quality systems such as GMP, NSF, or SQF to make the certification process as efficient as possible. So, for example, the GMP protocol you have in place for warehousing will likely meet the Halal standards.

The easiest way to look at Halal certification for both the product and the production facility is to view Halal as an allergen, as you would with a nut-free or gluten-free product. There is scrutiny of the product ingredients, production methods, and cleaning steps for these facilities to ensure no contamination.

If you want your products qualified at no cost with no obligations, feel free to apply here.

Certification

The certification process is as follows:

Application

AHF will process your application with no obligation and no cost. Your designated AHF account executive will coordinate with the AHF technical team to walk you through the documentation process to document and verify the Halal compliance of the product and the production facility. A “Halal Agreement” will be instated upon the approval of your application.

Click here to apply now.

Audit

Your Account Executive will schedule a Halal audit on a mutually convenient day. This audit may be conducted virtually. The audit typically lasts 4 hours and includes a training session for employees responsible for Halal production. The primary audit objective is to determine that everything that has been documented is in effect and to what extent.

For private label applications, it is required that a staff member of the private label brand be present during the Halal training to understand the protocols and procedures in place for the Halal program.

Certification

Your Halal certification documents will be delivered upon successfully completing the Halal audit. Congratulations! Your products and facility are now officially certified as Halal and recognized as such internationally. Your products will bear the most recognized symbol of integrity, authenticity, and wholesomeness in the world. You can add products or facilities by contacting your Account Executive in the future.

Responsibilities and Roles

Effective cooperation and communication are required on all levels between the private label brand and manufacturer to operate and sustain an effective Halal program. Below are some specific roles and responsibilities of each party.

Contract Manufacturer:

1. Maintain an independent internal “Halal Committee” responsible for overseeing Halal production
2. Sign the Halal Agreement that defines the parameters of Halal certification that need to be followed
3. Report any material changes to suppliers, ingredients, or production processes to AHF.

Private Label Brand:

1. Maintain production with approved and registered Halal facilities of the Halal program
2. Ensure Halal compliance of all labels
3. Sign the Halal Agreement that defines the parameters of Halal certification that need to be observed

Certification Licensing and Labelling

Private label brands primarily seek to protect the confidentiality of their manufacturers and suppliers to build independent brand value. AHF assists this through private label agreements and licensing the AHF logo to the brand on its packaging. The wording on the certification is generally “Manufactured for” or “Produced for” to distinguish the difference without disclosing the manufacturer’s details. To learn more about our logo policy, click here.

Upon the establishment of the halal private label agreement and program, products that qualify as halal may be added under the private label brand at any time by contacting your account executive. The appendices are generally processed within 48 hours. This gives your brand flexibility and the dynamic ability to grow with your certification.

Benefits of Halal Certification for Private Label Brands

Accentuated Brand Awareness and Increased Brand Value

A core goal is to build brand awareness and value. Halal certification is one of the highest return on investment allocations a brand can make. It opens the gateway to 1.9 billion Halal consumers globally. The Halal status of a product is the #1 factor that guides consumer choice for these consumers.

Additional Quality Assurance

In addition to delivering trust and building confidence for consumers, AHF is an essential conduit to maintaining the brand’s assurance that its manufacturer’s quality systems are in good standing. Fundamental to the Halal program are elements such as sanitation SOPs, quality documentation, and labeling regulations that increase the product’s overall health and safety.
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