Halal Certification

In order to achieve the ambitious goals set since its inception, ARGML relies on strict principles and values in the implementation of its halal certification procedures.

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Charter of Hygiene and Halal Quality

The ARGML bases its work on a Charter of Hygiene and Halal Quality that it has enacted, and which defines in particular:
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The conditions that sites must meet for the production of Halal meat or products: defining the prerequisites on the facilities, and the basic operating conditions.

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The ARGML audit and ritual control procedure implemented on the site: from the control of the cleaning of the production lines to the final packaging of the products.

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The possible laboratory analyses required to control the conformity of the products to the Islamic ritual standards: a control plan by laboratory analyses is defined according to the type of products.

The global Halal market

Muslim countries

Billions of Muslims in the world

Millions of Muslims in Europe

Billions of dollars worth of Halal certified food exported in 2018

The advantages of Halal Certification

Certified products also mean more transparency, quality and satisfied consumers.

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Reassure the consumer

The ARGML halal certification checks at every stage that the production process complies with Islamic requirements.

2.

Seizing new opportunities

Respond to the demand for a halal guarantee from many consumers.

3.

Opening up to international markets

Strengthen its position and broaden its scope with certified products.

4.

Affirming an ethic

More than a simple mention on a product, the halal certification is a commitment of respect towards the Muslim consumer.

Halal Certification Procedure

We have digitized the procedure in order to simplify the process of Halal Certification to the maximum.

At each stage, we may ask you additional questions or request corrective actions.

You will be informed at each step of the procedure and will be able to contact our service if necessary.

1. You apply for halal certification via our online form

Provide your information for a quick contact to study your project.

2. We proceed to the review of the halal certification application

An initial documentary study of your file, in order to validate that the elements related to your quality management system are sufficient to elaborate a halal audit program and start the certification procedure.

3. Validation of the halal certification contract

  • After studying your file, we draw up the halal certification contract, which takes into account all the information provided, in order to define the halal certification service that will be implemented by the ARGML.
  • You ratify the contract as well as all its appendices (the specifications, the conditions of tariff commitment, the rules relating to the use of the ARGML halal certification mark…). This validation marks your commitment, and the beginning of the halal certification phase.

4. Initial Halal Certification Procedure

  • We carry out the halal certification audit (steps 1 and 2)
  • At the end of the audit, the Halal Certification Committee meets to evaluate the whole file, and proceeds to the certification decision.

5. Maintaining Halal Certification

After obtaining the validation of the halal certification committee, the ARGML delivers the halal certification, and defines the monitoring activities to be implemented: ritual production control, laboratory analysis plan, monitoring audits.

They chose the ARGML

Many brands trust us, to bring the best Halal guarantee to their consumers, among them

Apply for ARGML halal certification

The application for certification is made directly online in a few minutes via our form.

We certify each step of the production chain

It is for us the way to guarantee to the consumers that the products are Halal

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The slaughter

Procedures for ritual slaughter of animals and cutting

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The transformation

The processing of meat and all agri-food products, the development and manufacture of cosmetic products

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The distribution

We certify butcher shops, restaurants and supermarket products

Ritual audit and control procedure

Global and field control at every stage

Its ritual audit and control procedures for ritual slaughter of animals, cutting of meat, manufacturing of processed products and meat-based ready meals, involve in particular:

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Beforehand, the ARGML checks and validates the composition of each of the recipes of the products to be certified halal (ingredients in accordance with our specifications, and if necessary the presence of ARGML certified halal meat).

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The permanent presence of one or several ritual controller(s) during the whole halal production operation, from the ritual sacrifice, the transformation of the products to the final packaging of the products. They control the entire process and must report on their work in a formal manner (cleaning control reports, slaughter, production … etc.) to ensure traceability ARGML halal productions.

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The exclusive management of the halal certification material by the ARGML ritual controllers (guarantee seals, labels, films, …).

Muslim controllers and employees of the association

For their ritual control mission, the ritual controllers are employees of the ARGML and therefore exercise their responsibility independently from the controlled company (they are not judge and jury).

It is important to remember that all ARGML Ritual Controllers are practicing Muslims who are fully aware of their responsibility to God and to Muslim consumers. They make a daily commitment to the religious conformity to Islamic principles of the products they certify.

Do you want to certify new or existing products as Halal that meet the requirements of Muslim consumers?

contact us

Plan an exchange

To define together the basis for an efficient and quality collaboration

Deciphering the ARGML halal certification logo

It represents the guarantee of a strict control of the production, and the insurance that the products do not contain illicit additives from the Islamic point of view.

Brand protection

In order to give more credit to its action and in front of the abusive use of the term “HALAL”. The ARGML has decided to protect its logo with the National Institute for Industrial Protection (INPI).
Thus, the brand name “ARGML” and its specific logo have become a registered trademark that assures the Muslim consumer of the Halal character of the certified products.

How to recognize the ARGML logo?

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ARGML: Ritual Association of the Great Mosque of Lyon. Governed by the law of 1901, the ARGML is an independent non-profit organization.

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Mosque of Lyon The presence of the dome and the calligraphic inscription “Mosque of Lyon” informs the consumer of the origin of the Ritual Association of the Great Mosque of Lyon, an independent association, under the law of 1901, created by the Great Mosque of Lyon to ensure in its name the control and certification of meat and food products.

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Hallal and حلال: Presence of these two names. Far from guaranteeing the hallal character of a product (if simple presence, without precision and/or presence of a “serious” organization behind) the mention of these two words allows the Muslim consumer to clearly and quickly identify the products suitable for his consumption.

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Dome: Graphic element and reproduction of the interior dome of the Great Mosque of Lyon

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Under the strict control of the Grand Mosque of Lyon: Guarantee of the implementation of a strict and rigorous certification procedure. A permanent presence of our controllers and the respect of the strictest Islamic principles. Procedures put in place by the Grand Mosque of Lyon within the framework of its religious prerogatives as a religious organization.

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Under the strict control of the Grand Mosque of Lyon: Guarantee of the implementation of a strict and rigorous certification procedure. A permanent presence of our controllers and the respect of the strictest Islamic principles. Procedures put in place by the Grand Mosque of Lyon within the framework of its religious prerogatives as a religious organization.

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www.hallal.mosquee-lyon.org: Let’s stay connected ! We wish to allow all our consumers to follow us on the internet, to discover our working methods and the commitments we make on a daily basis to allow the Muslim community to access securely to products that comply with Islamic prescriptions.

The benefits of a reliable certification

The term halal is a concept emanating from the Muslim scriptural sources: The Koran and the Sunna.
It defines what is permissible and permissible in the life of a Muslim. It is opposed to “Harâm” which refers to what is prohibited. Halal is a means and a condition for the path to the Creator and is therefore of fundamental importance to Muslims.
The notions of halal and harâm concern different aspects of the Muslim’s life and notably his food.
For example, a piece of Halal meat comes from an animal that has been authorized and slaughtered in accordance with the rules of Muslim ritual sacrifice and, if necessary, processed according to precise requirements.

ARGML

The halal guarantee

A misconception of halal ....

Of course, manufacturers have commercial considerations and budgetary imperatives that they must take into account in their production process. However, in an honest and transparent Halal certification process, the appreciation of the final cost of the product must not be at the expense of Halal quality.
Shortcuts regarding the Hallal production are to be banished. Here is a non-exhaustive list of pitfalls to avoid:
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To stamp a product “Halal” by using an exotic packaging (images representing the Arab-Islamic culture, …), without any guarantee of Halal traceability.

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To be satisfied with an employee “Muslim” or “of Maghrebian origin” to attest the Halal character of the final product.

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To use in the conception of product, meats coming from abroad whose character and traceability Halal are doubtful.

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To propose to its customers Halal certificates of convenience, without real proven guarantees.

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To label Halal a meat obtained from an automatic slaughter (slaughter with the disc).

A consumer more and more informed, more and more active …

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The Muslim consumer is gradually becoming aware of the role he must play in his act of consumption.

A new generation of consumers

We are thus witnessing the emergence of a younger, educated, informed, more demanding and more observant Muslim population than the previous generations, and in search of real guarantees.

More accessible information

The debate on halal is therefore gaining momentum and many community media are helping to make market information more and more accessible. A heightened democratization of the means of communication: Internet, online videos (Youtube, Dailymotion), social networks (Facebook,…) allows moreover to relay the information in an instantaneous way.

Brands pushed to be more responsible

It is not uncommon for a brand to be pinned for offering “pseudo halal” products. Thus, several “scandals” on halal have emerged on the web and were then relayed to consumers. The brands are then discredited and certain influential groups even go so far as to explicitly call for a boycott of the incriminated products. These repeated scandals induce mistrust and chilliness in front of a halal offer judged opaque and not very reassuring by a great number of consumers.

Muslim consumers want transparency and guarantees

The only watchword is therefore to respect the target to which the company addresses itself and to satisfy its security needs in terms of halal guarantee. More and more concerned about what they consume, Muslim consumers want transparency and guarantees on the halal quality of products and the operational mode implemented in the halal certification process.
Adopting a clear and transparent communication on its product offer means enhancing the value of the consumer to whom it is addressed.

We can help you provide all the necessary guarantees to Muslim consumers

Contact our association

To go
further

What is halal? Definition of the term "halal%.

“Halal” (halāl, Arabic حلال) – or in Turkish “Helal”. Halal (Arabic حلال, halāl) is an Arabic word that can be translated as “permitted” and “allowed”. The meaning of Halal is “that which is permitted, authorized and allowed”. Thus, the term “Halal” includes all things and actions that are permissible, permissible and in accordance with Islam from an Islamic perspective. It refers to all things and actions that are permitted or allowed by Islamic law. The third of the five categories of human actions in Islamic jurisprudence, it lies between haram (حرام), forbidden, and fard (فرض), lawful acts. Between halal and haram, there is a gray area called makruh (مكروه). Makruh (disapproved/unwanted) refers to all those things that are not explicitly forbidden, but which tend towards haram. Muslims should also avoid this gray area as a precaution.

Just like organic seals or Jewish kosher seals for food, there are also so-called halal certificates in commerce. The objective is to achieve the labeling of products whose production guarantees the respect of Halal rules.

“Halal – Helal” – means “authorized”, “permissible” or “pure”. As Halal, all things and acts are designated, which are permitted or allowed according to Islamic law. On the other hand, the

Haram (forbidden, unclean). The border between Halal and Haram is marked by Makruh (undesirable). The foods or other aspects covered by this provision are not explicitly forbidden, but tend to be Haram. Muslims should therefore avoid them completely. However, the issue of halal does not only concern food, but also food additives or packaging materials up to the transportation of the products. Halal thus becomes a concept that aims to improve the standard of living and the harmony between man and nature.

The history of halal certification

The history of halal certification in Europe begins with the establishment of long-term trading relationships with Muslim-majority countries. Arab countries in particular have demanded that meat imported from Europe be inspected by reliable imams. This should ensure that beef and sheep meat for export meets Halal criteria. Meanwhile, there are more than forty Halal certification bodies in Europe, most of them in Germany (6), France, Poland and the Netherlands (5 each). In Scandinavia and Portugal, however, there is only one certification body in each case. The majority of European halal certification companies are owned by Muslims of Arab origin, although they are a minority among the Muslim population in Germany and elsewhere.

All food must be halal

Eating according to Islamic dietary rules is a religious duty for Muslims. This applies not only to meat and meat products, but also to “healthy” food additives. Nowadays, food is mass-produced. In many production sectors, substances obtained from pigs are also processed, e.g. gelatine. For this reason, many Muslim consumers hesitate before purchasing certain foods or do without them altogether.

The question of whether certain foods are halal or not has long ceased to relate exclusively to the aspect of slaughter. At the same time, the call for halal certification is becoming louder among the growing Muslim population in Europe. Muslim communities have responded by creating halal certification bodies.

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ARGML, 146 Boulevard Pinel 69008 Lyon

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+33 (0)4 78 78 18 05

Email

argml @ mosquee-lyon.org

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