Halal Food Authority

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficient

Allah (swt) is guiding us in chapter 2 verse 168, “eat – O mankind, what is permissible and tayyib from the Earth”. Thereafter we are advised that:

in Al-Maida chapter 5:1 what kind of animal we should choose for our nourishment and sustenance.

then in 16:114 Muslims are directed

“ then verily, eat what is halal and tayyib and thank Allah for His blessing bestowed on you, perhaps you would be His good servants.”

Subsequently Qu’ran has injunction that is to be translated this way:
“ Allah has proscribed unto you, carrion, flowing blood and, pig meat and the animal on which Allah’s name has not been pronounced (whilst slaughtering)”.

In the United Kingdom we had slaughtering rules going as far as back 1953, that were reworded for the Act of 1974, “which said that the Jews could do slaughtering according to Rabbanical System and Muslims could do the way they wanted to”. This was again changed into slaughtering Regulation of 1999 – because there were changes made to the slaughterhouse and abattoirs and mechanisation was seeping into the system. With the influx of more and more Muslims into the UK and, scarcity of plants to participate, Muslims started doing their slaughtering in farms and open spaces, at times not only for the Qurbani, Udehya, but also for every day usage. This gave an opportunity to the animal rights lobby to pin point that the way Muslims do their ritual slaughtering is cruel and, there is no regard for hygiene or food safety.

There were many a discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare Departments. Some European Union Directives were looked at and, Muslim organisations were consulted. Halal Food Authority proposals to reword the legislation were taken on board. And now the act that is called Welfare of Animal slaughtering and Killing Rules 1999 – 400 (WASK 99-400) was enforced. In short the Act reads:

that slaughtering would only be done in EU approved plants
a sane licensed Muslim (trained and licensed by the Meat Hygiene Services) would do slaughtering and
it would be done in the presence or supervision of an Official Veterinary Surgeon.

Equipped with this Act and conformity of the Shari’ah, Muslims are now facilitated to perform and enjoy what is required by the religions axiom.

However, there is a buzzword in Europe and especially in the UK and that is, yes, you have guessed it “stunning”. This has been successfully addressed by Halal Food Authority to keep the compliance and to adhere to the earlier mentioned injunctions. “NO STUNNING TO KILL”.

It should be bourne in mind that only method of stunning accepted by HFA is electric stunning, both water bath for chicken and dry for ovine animals. Gas and captive bolt methods are out of the equation. Electric stun can be controlled like a dimmer switch on the wall for the immobilisation of the birds and the animals. This is working well and, we believe that usage of science and advancing technology is far better than the system some circles are proposing where hygiene and animal welfare together with human welfare seems to be extinct.

Mechanised Killing (fixed blade) in poultry slaughterhouses is being used with special attention to the fact that

front of the neck is cut in one clean swipe – thus cutting jugular vein, carotid artery and the wind pipe
no dorsal cut is allowed
for rendition of ‘shahada’ and to coincide with the speed of the plant licensed. Muslim slaughtermen are stationed at the cutting point (rendition accepted is 1500 times per hour/ person to equate the poultry slaughtering speed). Slaughterhouse owners and operators contractually provide number of slaughterers. It is an additional expense. But for the definition of halal it is mandatory and necessary.
blade is not blessed or the tasmiyah is not played on recorded systems.

It is interesting to note that the Turkish Ulemas have allowed Gas stunning of poultry in Germany. And uncharacteristic judgements like this are not in any way conducive to a unified system or establishing a unique halal operational system. Elsewhere in the world some are even endorsing captive bolt method. EU does not accept imports of some meat and poultry from some Muslim countries on the pretext of it not being procured with adherence to hygiene, food safety or environmental health criteria.

HFA is imploring to bringing science and technology in the halal slaughtering system, but it should be subservient to the halal injunctions and criteria of Qura’nic decree. We should not loose sight of the dictum, ethics and ethos that makes halal and permissible animals non-halal, should we not perform zibah the way it is prescribed.

This is the permission in Al-Maida 5:4 that “this day (O you Muslims) you are allowed to eat from the people of the Book and, they are also permitted to partake into your foods.”

There is no intention to foist or impose our will on any one if they are partial to kosher cuisines. But be careful do not transgress. Eat what is halal. Cherish the idea that whence halal is available why venture to Kosher menu. Do procure yourselves the recipes you like, be it, Kosher, Eastern or Western. No tayyamum, where water is available! Is there?

Halal Food Authority has now under its contractual authenticity and halal endorsement system, large and medium providers of halal meat, poultry, foodstuffs and additives and ingredients suppliers; such as Faccenda Group, Lloyd Maunder, Tesco, Asda, Welsh Country Foods, Kellogg’s (European), McCain, Ungerer, Overseal Foods, Unilever Best Foods, Belmay Foods, Solgar UK, Gerber and scores of others. Apart from this, meat and food is being exported to Middle East, Far East – UAE etc by approved licensed manufacturers and suppliers with HFA logo. International recognition of the HFA endorsements and halal logo have enhanced halal trade for many a reportable manufactures/ distributors.

European Union is quite sympathetic to Muslims in accommodating them for procurement of their halal requirements. We need more plants for halal slaughtering operation in France and in other parts of EU member states. We require Muslim entrepreneurs to come forward and join in the providers of halal; as there are over 80% non-Muslim traders, who are enjoying trade and R & D halal supplies. Why are we as Muslim Organisations only in accreditation and authentication business? Where are the business men and women, entrepreneurs those who could manage, invest and run halal trades starting from farming, slaughterhouses, cutting and portioning plants, distribution and transportation of goods? Then, there is question of researches into food technology and relevant aspects of additives and ingredients. They can find whether it is feasible or suitable for Muslim usage or not. Oh yes, leave it to the others! And we will reap their findings and, still keep saying what do non-Muslims know about halal?

Halal Food Authority has always been proponent of:

working in concert with national and international halal verifying, endorsing establishments in promoting halal.
reciprocally recognising each others work and efforts in serving the Muslim community
creating an atmosphere where Muslims take initiative to tap in and take share of the wealth that is being rightly yielding profit for non-Muslim players and shareholders.

In the peroration and conclusion, I am thankful to our hosts for the cordial welcome accorded and organising this opportunity for us to give our input. I am, very keenly looking forward to the communiqué to be issued at the end of this wonderful seminar which, could be I believe instrumental in resolving issues like stunning, alcohol and usage of science and technology for present day halal activities and the future R&D’s.

May Allah go with all of you and, may Allah give us all Muslims hidayat to seek for and consume halal always – Insha Allah.

Masood Khawaja
President Halal Food Authority

Holiday Inn, Skokie
Chicago, USA
IFANCA 9th Conference
23-24 April 2007