The Uttar Pradesh Government led by CM Yogi Adityanath
prohibited production, storage, distribution and sale of halal certified
products in the State with immediate effect. However, export products have been
exempted of this ban.
Food Safety and Drug Administration or FSDA Commissioner
and Additional Chief Secretary Anita Singh issued a notification in this
context on Saturday.
The action was taken after a complaint was filed at
Hazratganj police station against four organizations, production companies,
their owners and managers as well as other unidentified people for
unnecessarily extorting money in the name of halal certification and promoting
enmity in the name of religion and financially backing different anti-national,
separatist and terror organizations.
The FIR named Halal India Pvt Ltd of Chennai, Jamiat
Ulama Hind Halal Trust of Delhi, Halal Counselling of India and Jamiat Ulama of
Mumbai, Maharashtra as well as some unidentified people as the accused.
“Strict legal action will be taken against an
individual or firm engaged in the production, storage, distribution, buying and
selling of halal certified medicines, medical devices and cosmetics within
Uttar Pradesh,” said the UP Government.
“The halal certification is operating as a parallel
system and it creates confusion regarding food quality, violating government
rules in this regard,” it stated.
Taking a serious note, “the State Government has
banned production, storage, distribution and sale of halal certified products
in the state with immediate effect. Only export products will be exempted from
this ban,” said Anita Singh.
Explaining further on the matter, Singh said,
“Earlier, halal certification was only confined to meat products. But today all
types of products like oil, sugar, toothpaste and spices are being issued halal
certificates. Except the FSSAI, no agency or body can issue certificates to
products.”
Halal certification is a guarantee that the product is
prepared in accordance with Islamic law and is unadulterated. In India, the halal certificate is issued by a third-party
body unlike in Arab countries where a magistrate grants the halal certificate. However, in India, government run institutions like
the FSSAI and the ISI are authorised to certify food products.
Opinions From Different Quarters
Allahabad high court Lucknow Bench senior advocate Prashant
Chandra said ban on halal certified products was absolutely legal.
Any other agency undertaking certification in the name
of ‘halal certification’ must be banned as it also had the ill effect of
creating a divide between Muslims and non-Muslims and corroding the basic
structure of the Indian Constitution which is secular in nature, he said.
“India is the biggest meat exporter to the world and
most of this export is to Muslim countries. This export is of around ₹1.25 lakh
crore. Out of the top 20 meat exporters, 18 are non-Muslims. If halal
certification is banned, it will cause revenue loss to the country. However, if
the government goes ahead with this ban, then the Samajwadi Party will have no
objection,” said Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ameeq Jamai.
“Industry will abide by the State Government’s
decision. Whatever loss traders will face will be confined to packaging of
goods,” said Indian Industries Association national president Neeraj Singhal.
