Halal Food Authority

The Halal Food Authority is a voluntary, non-profit making organisation. It was launched in 1994 to monitor and regulate red meat and poultry in UK. The HFA introduced a unique system of identifying halal meat from non-halal, by putting marking or tagging for authenticity of halal on the carcasses, soon after slaughter at the slaughterhouses.

The HFA licenses slaughterhouses, distribution centres, retailers and providers of meat and poultry for human consumption. These licenses are granted on an annual and contractual basis. The HFA inspectors are there to audit and monitor compliance of both Islamic laws and MAFF and EC regulations of slaughter.

The HFA is also assiduously engaged in regulating, endorsing and authenticating food stuffs, pharmaceuticals, confectionery, toiletries, flavourings, emulsifiers, colourings (including E numbered additives etc) for Muslim usage. This is also done on an annual contractual basis by licensing the provider, after auditing ingredients, method of manufacture and process together with packaging and labelling.

The membership of HFA endorsement network has been found to be very much in demand, because not only it is benefiting for the Muslim end-user, but it is also giving an opportunity to the manufacturer/provider to be orientated with Muslim requirements and expand their market.

The HFA is also co-ordinating and seeking changes in food regulations, where there is a necessity and if there is no provision made in impending changes in proposals of DEFRA (Department of Environment and Rural Affairs) and EC (European Community) directives.

The HFA is working closely with the Food Standards Agency on a consultation basis on, among other issues animal feed, beef labelling, sheep and poultry strategy, water in frozen poultry, gelatine, health and hygiene in food manufacture that directly concern Muslims and Islamic dietary laws.

The HFA website is intended to touch on all the above topics. It will be updated frequently and any general or particular suggestions are welcome relating to the context of the website or the work done by HFA.