About Halal Food Authority
Halal Food Authority (HFA) is an independent, voluntary, non-profit, organisation operating as a commercial wing of a registered charity. The objective of HFA is to facilitate the Muslim Ummah to be partial to genuinely manufactured halal food in compliance of HFA Halal Standards, Islamic Jurisprudence and relevant EU regulations in vogue. Simultaneously, HFA creates awareness of halal principles and axioms for halal production within food industry, consumers and various national and international forums.
The HFA promotes animal welfare, adherence to food safety, food hygiene and quality in compliance with UK Laws and within the teachings of the Islamic jurisprudence and faith. HFA contractually works with establishments that are involved in the production and supply of Halal foods, to be able to certify all products for their halal status that is an assurance for the Muslim consumers that all the food they consume meets the axiom & standards of Halal.
The HFA was established when questions on the authenticity of Halal were discovered by Muslims of theUKin the early 90′s who visited and inspected UK Halal abattoirs and processing plants. Hence a dire need of authentication and certification of meat supply chain had been identified and HFA has been pro-active in this endeavouring task since then.
The HFA started authentication and accreditation of meat and poultry to start with their operations, subsequently expanded to include foodstuffs and dairy processors, flavour houses, manufacturers of food additives, colourings, essential oils and fats. HFA currently employs certification schemes for abattoirs, meat and poultry portioning plants, manufacturers, distributors and exporters, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics producers, restaurants, takeaways and retail meat outlets. HFA is equipped with a dedicated team of qualified and experienced auditors and inspectors who are diligently performing the required tasks with full aplomb and professionalism.
The HFA is also open for consumers and general public for advice and general consultation on halal issues prevalent in national and international halal industry while keeping the consumers and other stakeholders updated with recent developments in global halal issues surrounding, ritual slaughtering rules, animal welfare, Mashbooh raw materials, halal traceability and supply chain via our website, social networking and electronic media.
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 has been 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.