Halal Food Authority

What Halal Food Authority does

Halal Food Authority (HFA) is a UK-based, independent not-for-profit halal certification body founded in 1994 and headquartered in London, operating as the commercial wing of the registered Halal Food Foundation charity. HFA delivers third-party halal certification, auditing, product evaluation, export certification, group certification, and inspection services for both food and non-food producers, with an HFA Portal handling end-to-end client registration through certificate issuance. Certification is conducted against OIC/SMIIC, GSO, MS 1500, and Indonesian SNI standards, with technical audits paired with Sharia Board oversight and a proprietary Halal Food Sampling & Analysis Policy that routes samples to ISO 17025 accredited labs on a risk-based cadence.

HFA serves a client base of 1,000+ certified companies across food manufacturing, food service, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, ingredients, additives, cleaning substances, and packaging. Named enterprise clients include KFC UK, Unilever UK, and Kelloggs, alongside dedicated schemes (HFA Annual Scheme, 1-year; GSO/SMIIC Scheme, 3-year). Revenue is generated primarily through recurring certification fees and audit charges, supplemented by export certificates (notably to GCC markets) and conference/training income from the annual HFA Halal Industry Conference (HHIC). The organization is accredited by EIAC, HAK, BPJPH, and JAKIM, and recognized by SFDA, SASO, ESMA, MOCCAE, and KFDA, granting its certificates acceptance across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and parts of Europe and Africa.

Name

Halal Food Authority

Legal name

Halal Food Authority Limited

Website

https://halalfoodauthority.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Halal Food Authority is a UK-based not-for-profit halal certification body, founded in 1994, providing auditing, product evaluation, and export certification to food and non-food producers across 1,000+ global clients with multi-jurisdictional accreditation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Halal Certification Services

akta.pro primary industry

Halal Certification Services (AFALAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Integrated Management System Certification (Food Safety + Quality/Environment/OHS) (AFALACAI), Supplier Approval, Verification & Food Safety Risk Management (GFSI-aligned) (AFALADAH)

Keywords

• Halal certification services
• Halal auditing
• Islamic compliance verification
• Food safety certification
• Halal export certification

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Halal Certification Fees: HFA charges audit fees and annual certification fees for halal certification services. Two certification schemes offered: HFA Annual Scheme (1-year certification) and GSO/SMIIC Scheme (3-year certification). Costs vary based on industry sector, number of manufacturing sites, product variety, and number of full-time employees.
2. Conference and Training Revenue: HFA generates revenue from sponsorships and payments received for conferences or training conducted. This includes their annual Halal Industry Conference (HHIC) series and halal compliance training courses.
3. Export Certification: Export certificates to GCC markets and other international destinations generate additional certification fees. Meat category requires ongoing supervision for continuous compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Halal Food Authority (HFA) is an independent, not-for-profit halal certification body that audits, inspects, and certifies food and non-food producers for compliance with Islamic dietary laws. Core services include on-site audits and Sharia evaluations, ingredient and product evaluations, export certification for international trade, group certification for multi-site businesses, and ongoing inspections. Certification schemes include a 1-year HFA Annual Scheme and a 3-year GSO/SMIIC Scheme, supported by the HFA Portal for digital application management.

Product overview

Halal Food Authority (HFA) is a halal certification and auditing organization founded in 1994, offering a comprehensive suite of halal certification services for both food and non-food producers. The core offering consists of Halal Certification Services encompassing Audits & Evaluation, Products Evaluation, Export Certification, Group Certification, and Inspections. Supporting these core services are the HFA Portal (an online certification management platform), Halal Manual (certification guidance documents), and HFA Halal Industry Conference (annual industry event). The company extends certification across multiple non-food categories including Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, Ingredients, Additives & Aromas, Cleaning Substances, and Packaging Materials. The HFA Halal Food Sampling & Analysis program provides additional quality assurance through ISO-17025 accredited lab testing. Together, these products and services form a comprehensive halal certification ecosystem serving manufacturers, exporters, and businesses seeking to access the global halal market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Halal Certification Services Comprehensive halal certification and auditing services for food and non-food producers, verifying compliance with Islamic dietary regulations through rigorous monitoring of processes, ingredient evaluations, and halal labelling. Services include audits, product evaluations, export certification, group certification, and inspections. Offered under two schemes: HFA Annual Scheme (1-year) and GSO/SMIIC Scheme (3-year).
• Audits & Evaluation Technical and Sharia auditors conduct audits at production sites to ensure adherence to Islamic dietary regulations set out in HFA Halal Standards.
• Products Evaluation Expert food technologists review product ingredients to guarantee they comply with halal consumption standards.
• Export Certification Halal export certificate serving as proof that items being sent internationally meet halal requirements set out according to HFA Halal standards. Recognized in GCC markets and other international destinations.
• Group Certification Group certifications offered for businesses with multiple sites, ideal for those within a specific supply chain, industry cluster, or geographical area.
• Inspections Regular inspections carried out to verify that production adheres to the Halal standard and meets requirements outlined in the halal certification process.
• HFA Portal Online portal system where all certification process from registration of clients to issuance of certificate is managed digitally.
• Food & Beverages Certification Halal certification for food and beverage products, one of the fastest-growing sectors in the halal market.
• Cosmetics Certification Halal certification for cosmetics and personal care products ensuring all ingredients adhere to Islamic guidelines, excluding alcohol, non-halal animal derivatives, and harmful substances.
• Pharmaceuticals Certification Halal certification for pharmaceuticals ensuring all elements of drug development including ingredients, manufacturing practices, and handling comply with Islamic law. Products must not contain haram substances such as alcohol or pork by-products.
• Ingredients Certification Halal certification verifying that all ingredients in a product comply with Islamic dietary regulations, reviewing origin, production methods, and handling practices.
• Additives & Aromas Certification Halal certification guaranteeing that additives and flavors used in food production adhere to Islamic dietary regulations, including thorough assessment of origin, production techniques, and handling practices.
• Cleaning Substances Certification Halal certification for cleaning agents confirming products conform to Islamic guidelines, verifying all ingredients are permissible and do not contain non-halal animal derivatives or ethanol.
• Packaging Materials Certification Halal certification for packaging ensuring all elements including inks, adhesives, and coatings do not contain haram substances and the packaging process is free from non-halal contamination.
• Halal Food Sampling & Analysis Policy introducing random sampling and analysis of halal certified products from client sites. Samples sent to HFA approved ISO-17025 accredited labs for halal analysis, with frequency based on risk level (low, medium, high).

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000+ products certified for halal compliance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• HFA Halal Industry Conference Sponsors 2019minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 28 June 2019Conference sponsors supporting the 5th Annual HFA Halal Industry Conference. Event brought together halal industry experts from UK, Europe, Middle-East and Far-East.
• Emirates International Accreditation Center (EIAC)coreOthersPrimary accreditation body for HFA. EIAC is a member of IHAF (International Halal Accreditation Forum) and provides SMIIC standard accreditation. HFA certified companies under SMIIC standard gain recognition across OIC countries.
• Emirates Standardization & Metrology Authority (ESMA)coreOthersUAE standards body that recognizes HFA certification through EIAC accreditation. Enables market access for certified products to UAE and broader GCC markets.
• Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM)coreOthersMalaysian Islamic authority that accepts HFA certification. Malaysia is a major halal market requiring JAKIM recognition for imported halal products.
• Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)coreOthersSaudi regulatory body that recognizes HFA halal certification for products entering Saudi Arabian market.
• Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO)coreOthersSaudi standards body that recognizes HFA certification for compliance with Saudi requirements.
• Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal (BPJPH)coreOthersIndonesian halal certification authority. Indonesia's halal law mandates certification for food and beverage products from October 2024, with BPJPH as the governing body.
• Halal Agency of Turkey (HAK)coreOthersTurkish halal accreditation body that provides accreditation for HFA operations in Turkey and SMIIC standard certification.
• Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI)minorOthersIndonesian Muslim scholars council that accepts HFA certification through mutual recognition arrangements.
• Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS)minorOthersIslamic Religious Council of Singapore that recognizes HFA halal certification for products entering Singapore market.
• Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA)minorOthersUS-based halal certification body with mutual recognition of HFA certification.
• Halal Food Council of Europe (HFCE)minorOthersEuropean halal certification body based in Belgium with mutual recognition arrangement with HFA.
• GIMDES Helal Sertifika Alan FirmalarminorOthersTurkish halal certification organization that accepts HFA certification through mutual recognition.
• Central Islamic Committee of Thailand (CICOT)minorOthersThai Islamic authority that recognizes HFA halal certification for products entering Thailand.
• Korea Food & Drug Administration (KFDA)minorOthersSouth Korean regulatory body that recognizes HFA halal certification for food products entering Korean market.
• Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE)minorOthersUAE ministry that acknowledges HFA certification services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America): US-headquartered halal certification body offering food, ingredient and pharmaceutical halal certification globally with mutual recognition arrangements - directly comparable to HFA's scope, accreditation strategy and customer base of multinational manufacturers.
• Halal Food Council of Europe (HFCE): Belgium-based European halal certification body; mutual-recognition partner of HFA and directly comparable on European halal auditing, certification issuance, and export documentation.
• Halal Control GmbH: Germany-based halal certification body accredited by SMIIC and recognized across EU/ME markets; offers product and process certification for food and non-food producers, making it a close functional peer to HFA in Europe.
• GIMDES (Turkey): Turkish halal certification organization with mutual recognition arrangements across the OIC bloc; functionally and structurally similar to HFA as a private certifier accredited to issue SMIIC-standard halal certificates.

Broad incumbents

• BPJPH (Badan Penyelenggara Jaminan Produk Halal): Indonesia's halal product assurance agency governing the country's mandatory halal regime; structurally comparable to HFA's certification issuance but with sovereign regulatory authority that frames HFA's role in Indonesia as a foreign-accredited body.
• JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia): Malaysian government halal authority that sets standards and certifies products domestically and via mutual recognition; the dominant Asian halal authority, comparable to HFA on certification scope but with sovereign-state scale.
• MUI (Majelis Ulama Indonesia): Indonesia's Ulema Council historically issuing halal fatwas and certifications under BPJPH framework; comparable to HFA on the religious-audit layer and the international halal certification market.

Regional players

• MUIS (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura): Singapore's Islamic Religious Council operating a leading halal certification scheme with strong regional brand; comparable in methodology and accreditation strategy but Singapore-centric, not a direct geographic competitor to HFA.
• Halal Australia: Australia-based halal certification body serving Asia-Pacific manufacturers; comparable service offering (audits, certificates, export documentation) but operating primarily in Oceania rather than competing with HFA in EMEA.

Others

• ESMA (Emirates Standardization & Metrology Authority): UAE standards body that recognizes HFA certification via EIAC accreditation; included as an ecosystem participant / regulator rather than a competitive certifier, defining market access conditions for HFA in the GCC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hff_uk
• Facebookweb.facebook.com/HalalFoodAuthorityUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/halal-food-authority-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/halalfoodauthority_uk

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Halal Food Authority