DGFT Notifies 20 Additional Countries for Mandatory Halal Certification of Meat Exports [Read Notification]
DGFT has made Halal certification mandatory for meat exports to 20 additional countries under the I-CAS framework
![DGFT Notifies 20 Additional Countries for Mandatory Halal Certification of Meat Exports [Read Notification]](https://images.taxscan.in/h-upload/2026/04/10/2132650-dgft-notifies-20-additional-countries-for-mandatory-halal-certification-of-meat-exports-.webp "DGFT Notifies 20 Additional Countries for Mandatory Halal Certification of Meat Exports [Read Notification]")
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification expanding the list of countries where mandatory Halal certification is required for export of meat and meat products from India. The move is aimed at streamlining certification procedures and aligning export practices with international requirements. The notification amends an earlier order issued in October...
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has issued a notification expanding the list of countries where mandatory Halal certification is required for export of meat and meat products from India. The move is aimed at streamlining certification procedures and aligning export practices with international requirements.
The notification amends an earlier order issued in October 2024 and adds 20 new countries to the list where exporters must comply with the India Conformity Assessment Scheme (I-CAS) for Halal certification.
Key highlights of the notification
- 20 additional countries have been included, such as:
- Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan
- Egypt, Algeria, Syria, Lebanon
- Senegal, Maldives, Brunei
- Libya, Tunisia, Turkmenistan
- Yemen, Mauritius, Seychelles, Kenya and Morocco
- Exporters sending meat and meat products to these countries must now obtain Halal certification under the I-CAS framework
- Certification must be issued by NABCB-accredited bodies, as per existing policy
Timeline for implementation
The notification provides different timelines for implementation:
- For most countries, the requirement will apply after a two-week transition period from the date of notification
- For Egypt, a longer period of six months has been given to allow system readiness and onboarding of certification bodies
What remains unchanged
The DGFT clarified that all other conditions under the earlier notification remain the same. Exporters must continue to:
- Follow certification rules under I-CAS
- Comply with the specific requirements of importing countries
Impact on exporters
The expansion means that Indian exporters will now have to meet Halal certification requirements for a larger number of destinations. This is expected to increase compliance requirements, improve standardisation of export procedures and enhance acceptance of Indian meat products in international markets
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