Previously, the Halal certification requirement was only available for meat and meat-based products. Now, with this new regulation, the scope will be expanded, and Halal certificates will be requested from many product groups. 

 

According to the Food and Drug Administration of Saudi Arabia (SFDA) proposal regarding Halal regulations, the mandatory halal certificate statement is also required to be extended to many widely consumed food and beverage products. 

 

This request for legislation is actually part of a series of reforms that the Saudi Government has been implementing since 2019. For example, the Halal Center was established under SFDA to approve foreign Halal certification institutions. However, SFDA has become the only authority to issue/control halal certificates for all locally produced and imported foodstuffs. 

 

Previously, the Halal certification requirement was only available for meat and meat-based products. 

 

Now, with this new regulation, the scope will be expanded, and Halal certificates will be requested from many product groups. Product groups where the halal certificate will be mandatory; all dull and cold foods (pizza, cake, noodles, beverages, etc.), snack product group (biscuits, cakes, chocolate, confectionery, soft sugars (jelly), etc.), products with long shelf life (baby foods, canned foods, sauces, supplementary foods, etc.), milk and dairy products and fats. As the public opinion-gathering process ended in April 2021, the new regulation is expected to enter into force in two stages, from January 1, 2022, to July 1, 2022. 

 

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