Frequently Asked Questions

Halal is an Arabic word which essentially means “permissible or allowed” according to the holy book Quran and the teaching of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for Muslims. Haram (forbidden) is the opposite word to halal, and means not allowed to eat and use according to Islamic dietary laws.

HCO believes in, and promotes ‘Halal’ as synonymous with Healthy and Hygienic. This message is consistently conveyed to our community and our customers.

HCO is proud to boast a team of highly trained professionals who have relevant experiences in their respective areas of expertise including doctorates in Islamic theology, meat science, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, veterinary and medical doctors etc. We are committed to critically examining any products certified as Halal by us, in order to provide peace of mind to the HALAL consumer.

Our trained inspectors and qualified auditors complete their due diligence at every slaughterhouse with a zero tolerance approach to animal welfare in accordance with the teachings of Islam and the laws of the land.

Due to the high standard of our operations, HCO carefully scrutinises HCBs to ensure that only the genuine ones are recognised by us. We currently have mutual recognition with selected HCBs within the EU and further afield.

HCO is run by technically qualified professionals in their respective fields, who have a mission to provide training and education at every level within the industry and the community, because there is always scope for learning and improving. Appropriate training can be provided by a recognised and approved Halal training provider in Halal Compliance. Please contact HCO for a list of approved Halal Compliance training providers.

HCO covers global certification through its direct accreditations and recognitions. We also proactively form affiliations with other halal certification bodies globally and keep abreast of any changes in the Halal regulations in different parts of the world. HCO is accredited and approved in GCC countries, SFDA, SASO, MOIAT, Middle East, MUIS (Singapore), CICOT (Thailand), BPJPH (Indonesia), SMIIC (Ref- OIC Halal Standard-57 Muslim Countries), IMNOR (Morocco), and Malaysia through our partner organisations.

HCO conducts a risk-based assessment for each site, and depending on the level of risk, sites can be audited annually, twice, or more frequently every year. HCO also supervises halal slaughtering at abattoirs and high-risk premises at regular intervals, both announced and unannounced.

HCO encourages its clients to adopt sustainable business practices where possible, because as Muslims, the Quran teaches us that it is our responsibility to protect our planet just as it has protected us. As Muslims, we are taught that the Earth is an ‘Amana’ or Trust that we have welcomed from Allah. Therefore, every Muslim is responsible for the safety of the planet in order to allow all living beings to thrive. By promoting sustainable practices, HCO is committed to fulfilling its service to the planet Earth.

At HCO, we ONLY allow approved methods of stunning for animal slaughter, ensuring full compliance with Islamic Sharia principles and unwavering commitment to animal welfare; all animals must be alive at the time of slaughter. The slaughterer must be Muslim, trained, and approved by the FSA and HCO with a competence certificate. Additionally, we adhere to major Islamic countries' Halal standards like GSO standards (GCC countries), Indonesia, Malaysia, and SMIIC (OIC - Halal standards for 57 Muslim countries).