Codex Alimentarius

Disclaimer: The Codex alimentations commission has framed general guide lines for use of the term “Halal” in food labeling, this guideline is given hereunder in a public interest to meet the product on international standard. There is no personal benefit in providing this guideline in this website, this website belongs to trust which is a nonprofit organization.

The Codex Alimentarius (Latin for “Food Code”) is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines, and other recommendations relating to foods, food production, and food safety.

Its name is derived from the Codex Alimentarius Austriacus. Its texts are developed and maintained by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, a body that was established in early November 1961 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), was joined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 1962, and held its first session in Rome in October 1963.The Commission’s main goals are to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the international food trade. The Codex Alimentarius is recognized by the World Trade Organization as an international reference point for the resolution of disputes concerning food safety and consumer protection.

As of 2012, there were the 186 members of the Codex Alimentarius Commission: 186 member countries and one member organization, the European Union (EU). There were 215 Codex observers: 49 intergovernmental organizations, 150 non-governmental organizations, and 16 United Nations organizations.[Source: Wikipedia]

World Health Organisation
Food and Agriculture Organisation

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR USE OF THE TERM “HALAL” CAC/GL 24-1997

The Codex Alimentarius Commission accepts that there may be minor differences in opinion in the interpretation of lawful and unlawful animals and in the slaughteract, according to the different Islamic Schools of Thought. As such, these general guidelines are subjected to the interpretation of the appropriate authorities of the importing countries. However, the certificates granted by the religious authorities of the exporting country should be accepted in principle by the importing country, except when the latter provides justification for other specific requirements.

SCOPE
1. These guidelines recommend measures to be taken on the use of Halal claims in food labelling.
2. These guidelines apply to the use of the term halal and equivalent terms in claims as defined in the General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods and include its use in trade marks, brand names and business names.
3. These guidelines are intended to supplement the Codex General Guidelines on Claims and do not supersede any prohibition contained therein.
DEFINITION
1. Halal Food means food permitted under the Islamic Law and should fulfil the following conditions:
  1. does not consist of or contain anything which is considered to be unlawful according to Islamic Law;
  2. has not been prepared, processed, transported or stored using any appliance or facility that was not free from anything unlawful according to Islamic Law; and
  3. has not in the course of preparation, processing, transportation or storage been in direct contact with any food that fails to satisfy 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 above.
2. Notwithstanding Section 2.1 above:
  1. halal food can be prepared, processed or stored in different sections or lines within the same premises where non-halal foods are produced, provided that necessary measures are taken to prevent any contact between halal and non-halal foods;
  2. halal food can be prepared, processed, transported or stored using facilities which have been previously used for non-halal foods provided that proper cleaning procedures, according to Islamic requirements, have been observed.
CRITERIA FOR USE OF THE TERM “HALAL”
1. Lawful food: The term halal may be used for foods which are considered lawful. Under the Islamic Law, all sources of food are lawful except the following sources, including their products and derivatives which are considered unlawful:
  1. Food of animal origin
    1. Pigs and boars.
    2. Dogs, snakes and monkeys.
    3. Carnivorous animals with claws and fangs such as lions, tigers, bears and other similar animals.
    4. Birds of prey with claws such as eagles, vultures, and other similar birds.
    5. Pests such as rats, centipedes, scorpions and other similar animals.
    6. Animals forbidden to be killed in Islam i.e., ants, bees and woodpecker birds.
    7. Animals which are considered repulsive generally like lice, flies, maggots and other similar animals.
    8. Animals that live both on land and in water such as frogs, crocodiles and other similar animals.
    9. Mules and domestic donkeys.
    10. All poisonous and hazardous aquatic animals.
    11. Any other animals not slaughtered according to Islamic Law.
    12. Blood.
  2. Food of plant origin: – Intoxicating and hazardous plants except where the toxin or hazard can be eliminated during processing.
  3. Drink
    1. Alcoholic drinks.
    2. All forms of intoxicating and hazardous drinks.
  4. Food additives: – All food additives derived from Items 3.1.1, 3.1.2 and 3.1.3.
2. Slaughtering: – All lawful land animals should be slaughtered in compliance with the rules laid down in the Codex Recommended Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat and the following requirements:
  1. The person should be a Muslim who is mentally sound and knowledgeable of the Islamic slaughtering procedures.
  2. The animal to be slaughtered should be lawful according to Islamic law.
  3. The animal to be slaughtered should be alive or deemed to be alive at the time of slaughtering.
  4. The phrase “Bismillah” (In the Name of Allah) should be invoked immediately before the slaughter of each animal.
  5. The slaughtering device should be sharp and should not be lifted off the animal during the slaughter act.
  6. The slaughter act should sever the trachea, oesophagus and main arteries and veins of the neck region.
3. Preparation, processing, packaging, transportation and storage: – All food should be prepared, processed, packaged, transported and stored in such a manner that it complies with Section 2.1 and 2.2 above and the Codex General Principles on Food Hygiene and other relevant Codex Standards.
ADDITIONAL LABELLING REQUIREMENTS
1. When a claim is made that a food is halal, the word halal or equivalent terms should appear on the label.
2. In accordance with the Codex General Guidelines on Claims, claims on halal should not be used in ways which could give rise to doubt about the safety of similar food or claims that halal foods are nutritionally superior to, or healthier than, other foods.

Not: The relevant portion of Codex Alimentarius guide line is placed above in respect of Halal guideline.

For further information on the activities of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, please contact:

Secretariat of the Codex Alimentarius Commission
Joint FAQ/WHO Food Standards Programme
Viala delle Terme di Caracalla
00153 Rome Italy,
Telephone: +39 06 57051
Fax: +39 06 57053152/57054593
Telex: 625852 or 625853
E-mail: Codex@fao.org

Food Labeling

Food labeling is the primary means of communication between the producer and seller of food on the one hand, and the purchaser and consumer on the other. The Codex Alimentarius standards and guidelines on food labeling are published in this compact format to allow their wide use and understanding by governments, regulatory authorities, food industries and retailers, and consumers. This fifth edition includes texts adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission up to 2007.

The Codex Alimentarius Commission is an intergovernmental body with over 170 members, within the framework of the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the World Health Organization (WHO). The main result of the Commission’s work is the Codex Alimentarius, a collection of internationally adopted food standards, guidelines, codes of practice, and other recommendations to protect the health of consumers and ensure fair practices in the food trade.