Regulations Related to Halal (HALAL) Foods

Definition of Halal

Halal means "permissible" in Arabic, referring to food and products that can be consumed and used according to Islamic law. Halal foods are products processed and produced under specific conditions and use approved ingredients and manufacturing processes according to Sharia law. (Source: Halal Certification Authority, Global Halal Center)

Background

Muslim believers strictly follow Halal rules, consuming only Halal-certified products. This is part of their faith to avoid consuming prohibited (Haram) or unhygienically processed foods. The Halal market holds significant economic value globally, and the demand for Halal-certified products is increasing in Korea as well. (Source: Korea Halal Industry Association Report)

Regulatory History

• 1960s: Korea was mostly unaware of the concept of Halal.
• Early 2000s: Awareness of Halal food began to rise along with the increase in Muslim tourists. (Source: Korea Tourism Organization Report)
• 2014: Korea Standards Association introduced the Korean Halal Certification System. (Source: Korea Standards Association)
• 2016: The Korea Halal Industry Association was established to create a more systematic certification system. (Source: Korea Halal Industry Association)
• 2021: The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued guidelines on Halal certification. (Source: MFDS Announcements)

Recent Regulations

Recently, the Korean government has been making efforts to clarify Halal certification procedures and standards to align with international norms. Currently, the Korea Muslim Federation (KMF) provides Halal certification in Korea, mainly referring to standards from major Islamic countries like Malaysia. (Source: Halal Korea)

• Required Documents for Import: For foods certified as Halal abroad, the product packaging label includes the Halal logo. In these cases, the Halal Certificate for the product must be submitted at the time of import.

Issues

• Certification Costs and Procedures: Small and medium-sized enterprises face high costs, making it burdensome. (Source: Korea Herald)
• Trust in Certification Bodies: There are issues with the competition and cooperation between internationally recognized certification bodies. (Source: Global Halal Data Pool)
• Consumer Awareness: Many Korean consumers are not well-informed about Halal certification or its significance. (Source: Korea Consumer Agency)

Future Discussions

• Strengthening International Cooperation: There is a need to strengthen cooperation with Halal certification bodies to establish a globally recognized Halal certification system. (Source: Halal Expo Korea)
• Awareness Campaigns: Campaigns to educate domestic consumers about the importance and necessity of Halal products are needed. (Source: Korea Culture and Tourism Institute)
• Enhancing Support Policies: Government support programs should be introduced to help SMEs obtain Halal certification. (Source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups)
• Research and Development: Ongoing research and development are necessary to ensure the safety and quality of Halal foods. (Source: Korea Food Research Institute)