Halal certification in Australia

In 1981, a meat substitution scandal where substitution of horse and kangaroo meat for beef in consignments for overseas exports threatened the reputation of the Australian meat export industry.http://websearch.aic.gov.au/firstaicPublic/fullRecord.jsp?recno=207474{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}http://websearch.aic.gov.au/firstaicPublic/fullRecord.jsp?recno=214395{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The next year, a Royal Commission into the meat industry investigated mislabelling of meat products, which included forged halal certificates.{{cite web|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/how-they-fed-us-donkey-burgers-20121118-29jn6.html|title=How they fed us donkey burgers|work=Canberra Times|date=18 November 2012 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2015/09/07/4305337.htm|title=The Truth About Halal|date=7 September 2015|work=Four Corners|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}} The Royal Commission said that halal certification monopolies should be avoided and that fees charged should "not be seen as a way of raising revenue for other Muslim purposes unconnected with the meat industry."

In Australia specified halal accreditation agencies are permitted to certify as halal the exports of red meat and red meat products to Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Approaches have been made to the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) by various Australian agencies to establish accreditation for particular Australian certification arrangements to secure the export trade for halal-certified meat products.{{cite news|url=http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2014/02/27/055558053/Australian-Business-Shows-Proof-of-MUI-Trip-Fees |title=Australian Business Shows Proof of MUI Trip Fees |date=27 February 2014|work=Tempo|accessdate=24 February 2015}} For approval, Indonesia specifies that there be both a scientist and an expert in Islamic law working within the Australian organisation seeking halal accreditation.{{cite news|url=http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2014/03/21/241564217/Din-Syamsuddin-Hardliners-from-all-religions-like-to-wage-war |title=Din Syamsuddin: Hardliners from all religions like to wage war |date=21 March 2014|work=Tempo|accessdate=24 February 2015}} During the lobbying process by Australia for Indonesian halal accreditation, corruption has been alleged and denied.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/australia-caught-in-cash-for-halal-claim/story-fn3dxix6-1226836295598 |title=Australia caught in 'cash-for-Halal' |date=24 February 2014|work=The Australian|accessdate=24 February 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2014/02/24/055557064,uk.html/Halal-Certificate-for-Sale|title=Halal Certificate for Sale|date=24 February 2014|work=Tempo|accessdate=24 February 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205301/http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2014/02/24/055557064,uk.html/Halal-Certificate-for-Sale|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/03/01/editorial-halal-and-transparency.html |title=Editorial: Halal and transparency |date=1 March 2014|work=The Jakarta Post|accessdate=24 February 2014}}

In assessing halal meat exports to the US, an investigation by Halal Advocates of America covered "over ten" slaughterhouses in Australia. They determined that there are differences in the, "degree of reliability and trustworthiness" of Australian halal certifying bodies, that pre-stunning is being used and that none of the slaughterers had "deviated beliefs or belonged to one of the deviated sects". The investigators said they were satisfied with the certification processes of ICCV and SICHMA and said there was great potential in working with these two organisations in the future.{{cite web|url=http://halaladvocates.net/site/our-resources/australia/ |title=Australian Meat Report|date=2011|work=Halal Advocates of America|accessdate=25 February 2015}}

{{Transliteration|ar|Halal}} certification in Australia began in 1974. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) was initially recommended by a 1974 delegation from Saudi Arabia, as the "sole authority in Australia to certify that meat had been killed in accordance with Islamic rites" for Muslims in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://www.islamiccouncilwa.com.au/after-the-second-world-war/|title=After the Second World War|work=islamiccouncilwa.com.au}} As at March 2017 there were 22 Islamic groups approved by the federal government to issue halal certificates for export.{{cite web|title=List of recognised Islamic bodies for halal certification of red meat|url=http://www.agriculture.gov.au/export/controlled-goods/meat/elmer-3/list-islamic-halal-certification|publisher=Department of Agriculture and Water Resources|accessdate=24 March 2017|date=3 March 2017}} Some of the major halal certifiers are: the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC); the Halal Certification Authority Australia; the Supreme Islamic Council of Halal Meat in Australia; the Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria;{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/why-halal-certification-is-in-turmoil-20141227-12cmd3.html |title=Why halal certification is in turmoil |author=Johnson, Chris|date=28 December 2014|work=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=28 January 2017}} and [https://halal-australia.com.au Halal Australia].{{Cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1617/Quick_Guides/HalalCert|title = Halal certification in Australia: A quick guide}} These organisations charge fees for their services. A Parliamentary Library publication provides further details regarding the halal certification process and bodies which provide services within Australia. It states that the prices vary "depending on the product involved, the organisation from which

certification is sought and whether the goods are for export or domestic consumption. However, the fees are often modest."{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Jaan|title=Halal certification in Australia: a quick guide|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/4787378/upload_binary/4787378.pdf;fileType=application/pdf|publisher=Parliament of Australia|accessdate=24 March 2017|date=30 August 2016}} It is reported that AFIC earns up to $1 million a year from halal certification.

Similarly, the certification of food produced in Australia as kosher (the other primary form of religion-based certification) is largely conducted by two non-government organisations. In states not covered by these organisations local rabbis undertake this duty.{{cite web|last1=Senate Economics References Committee|title=Third party certification of food|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Food_Cert_Schemes/Report|publisher=Parliament of Australia|accessdate=21 March 2017|pages=11–13|date=1 December 2015}} The kosher certification bodies also charge fees for this service.{{cite web|last1=Murphy|first1=Jaan|title=Kosher food certification in Australia: a quick guide|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1617/Quick_Guides/KosherCertification|publisher=Parliamentary Library|accessdate=21 March 2017|date=7 March 2017}}

There is a debate within the Muslim community over whether meat from animals which are killed after first being stunned can be considered halal. While research undertaken by Meat & Livestock Australia supports the use of pre-slaughter stunning,{{cite book|url=https://www.livecorp.com.au/sites/default/files/rd_report/project_file/w.liv_.0383_review_of_stunning_and_halal_slaughter.pdf|title=Review of Stunning and Halal Slaughter|author=Pleiter, Helmut|isbn=9781741915730|date=February 2010|work=Meat & Livestock Australia|access-date=16 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204013215/https://www.livecorp.com.au/sites/default/files/rd_report/project_file/w.liv_.0383_review_of_stunning_and_halal_slaughter.pdf|archive-date=4 February 2015|df=dmy-all}} Ikebal Patel, the then-president of AFIC, believes, "the jury is still out".{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/ritual-animal-killing-routine-in-australia/story-fn59niix-1226080205383 |title=Ritual animal killing routine in Australia |author=Puddy, Rebecca|date=23 June 2011|work=The Australian|accessdate=16 February 2015}} The RSPCA says while the vast majority of halal slaughter in Australia involves pre-slaughter stunning,{{cite web|url=http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-is-Halal-slaughter-in-Australia_116.html |title=What is Halal slaughter in Australia?|date=19 January 2015|work=RSPCA|accessdate=4 February 2015}} "the slaughter of a fully conscious animal is inhumane and completely unnecessary" and is strongly lobbying for action against this practice for all domestic and export animals.{{cite web|url=http://www.rspca.org.au/campaigns/un-stunned-slaughter |title=Un-Stunned Slaughter|work=RSPCA|accessdate=4 February 2015}}

Australian halal certification marks can be registered by the legal owner under the Australian Trade Mark Act. Doing so requires the owner to consistently provide products of the specified standard.{{cite web|last1=Senate Economics References Committee|title=Third party certification of food|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Food_Cert_Schemes/Report|publisher=Parliament of Australia|accessdate=21 March 2017|page=8|date=1 December 2015}} Mis-use of trade marks can lead to legal penalties: In a 2014 court case, HCAA successfully sued a meat supplier which had provided a certificate to two kebab shops which included the authority's trade mark and wrongly claimed that it had certified the meat. The Supreme Court awarded damages, against the wholesaler, of $91,015.00 being 150% of the annual licence fees, that would have been otherwise payable.{{cite web|url=http://www.claytonutz.com/publications/edition/10_july_2014/20140710/sheesh_kebab_sellers_unauthorised_trade_mark_certification_a_costly_mistake.page|title=Sheesh! Kebab sellers' unauthorised trade mark certification a costly mistake |author=Doyle, Brett|date=10 July 2014|work=Clayton Utz|accessdate=26 February 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.davies.com.au/ip-news/federal-court-awards-additional-damages-for-flagrant-infringement-of-halal|title=Federal Court awards additional damages for flagrant infringement of halal certification trade mark|work=davies.com.au|date=10 September 2014 }} A 2015 Senate inquiry recommended that all halal certification schemes register trade marks and for the sector to consider adopting a single trade mark to improve confidence that products marketed as halal meet the required standards.{{cite web|last1=Senate Economics References Committee|title=Third party certification of food|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Food_Cert_Schemes/Report|publisher=Parliament of Australia|accessdate=21 March 2017|pages=32–33|date=1 December 2015}}

Despite claims by some Australian anti-Islam groups of halal certification funds terrorism, a report by the ABC fact-checking unit found that the profits of halal certification go to Islamic schools and mosques.{{cite web | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-14/fact-check-does-halal-certification-fund-terrorism/6383238?nw=0&r=HtmlFragment | title=Fact check: Does halal certification fund terrorism? | website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=14 April 2015 }}

Halal food certification has been criticised by groups who claim that certifying foods as halal leads to consumers subsidizing a particular religious belief.{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/why-halal-certification-is-in-turmoil-20141227-12cmd3.html |title=Why halal certification is in turmoil |date=28 December 2014 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |last=Johnson |first=Chris |access-date=8 January 2015}}

In 2014, anti-halal-certification groups campaigned against Australian food companies in an attempt to discourage them from having their food certified as being halal. Some of these groups argued that the cost of certification increases the prices of food to all consumers,{{cite news |last1=Masanauskas |first1=John |date=18 July 2014 |title=Halal food outrage from anti-Islam critics |work=Herald Sun |url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/halal-food-outrage-from-antiislam-critics/story-e6frf7jo-1226992523050 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427151510/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/halal-food-outrage-from-antiislam-critics/story-e6frf7jo-1226992523050 |archive-date=2015-04-27 |accessdate=4 January 2015}} and that the fees charged for certification are used to fund terrorism.{{cite news |last1=Mann |first1=Alex |date=20 November 2014 |title=Why are some Australians campaigning against halal and what's its effect? |work=7:30 Report |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2014/s4133082.htm |accessdate=4 January 2015}} In November 2014 Fleurieu Milk & Yoghurt Company decided to stop producing halal products after being targeted by campaigners, and a number of other large and small companies were also reported to have been targeted.{{cite news|last1=Ma|first1=Wenlei|last2=AAP|title=Halal conspiracy theorists bullying Australian businesses|url=http://www.news.com.au/finance/small-business/halal-conspiracy-theorists-bullying-australian-businesses/story-fn9evb64-1227119726790|accessdate=4 January 2015|work=News.com.au|date=12 November 2014|archive-date=21 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521230703/http://www.news.com.au/finance/small-business/halal-conspiracy-theorists-bullying-australian-businesses/story-fn9evb64-1227119726790|url-status=dead}} Keysar Trad from the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils told a journalist in July 2014 that "hate groups" were attempting to exploit anti-Muslim sentiments.

In 2015, the head of the Halal Certification Authority Australia, Mohammed El-Mouelhy took legal action in the NSW Supreme Court against members of the Q Society of Australia and the owner of a website entitled HalalChoices. El-Mouelhy claims he has been defamed in relation to the proceeds of halal certification.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/11/anti-halal-campaigner-sued-over-claims-islamic-certification-supports-terrorism |title=Anti-halal campaigner sued over claims Islamic certification supports terrorism |author=Safi, Michael|date=11 February 2015|work=The Guardian|accessdate=28 January 2017}}{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/politics/mysterious-antiislam-society-steps-out-of-the-shadows-for-its-big-moment/news-story/7425e184e59ecdbaf83a0b41b2531298 |title=Mysterious anti-Islam society steps out of the shadows for its big moment |author=Reynolds, Emma|date=8 January 2017|work=News Ltd|accessdate=28 January 2017}} The case was settled out of court in 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/28/halal-certifiers-defamation-case-against-kirralie-smith-and-q-society-settled-out-of-court|title=Halal certifier's defamation case against Kirralie Smith and Q Society settled out of court|date=27 February 2017|newspaper=The Guardian}}

In mid-2017 it was revealed several companies in Australia including Kellogg's had ceased paying for halal certification. They denied it was in response to pressure from campaigners.{{cite web|url=http://www.bandt.com.au/marketing/kelloggs-sanitarium-drop-halal-certification-deny-public-pressure|title=Kellogg's & Sanitarium Drop Halal Certification But Deny It Was From Customer Pressure - B&T|date=18 July 2017}} Commenting on this, a spokesman for Kellog's said, “As most of our cereals are plant-based, they’re inherently halal, so we chose not to renew our certification...This was a commercial decision, not the result of any public pressure or backlash.{{cite news|url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/4801405/halal-certification-unnecessary-for-cereal-says-kelloggs-sanitarium/|title=Halal certification 'unnecessary' for cereal says Kellogg's, Sanitarium|date=19 July 2017|newspaper=The Courier}}

In May 2015, the Australian Senate announced it would inquire into "third-party certification of food"{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Food_Cert_Schemes |title=Third party certification of food|date=13 May 2015|work=Australian Senate|accessdate=16 May 2015}} with one of the terms of reference being an examination of Australian food certification schemes, and certifiers, including those related to halal foods.{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-australian-senate-is-going-to-investigate-halal-certification-as-well-as-gm-and-organic-foods-2015-5|title=The Australian senate is going to investigate halal certification, as well as GM and organic foods|author=Thomsen, Simon|date=13 May 2015|work=Business Insider|accessdate=16 May 2015|archive-date=19 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519015117/http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-australian-senate-is-going-to-investigate-halal-certification-as-well-as-gm-and-organic-foods-2015-5|url-status=dead}}

The inquiry's final report was released on 1 December 2015. It recommended that the federal government increase its oversight of domestic halal certifiers to address fraudulent conduct in the sector.{{cite news|last1=Medhora|first1=Shalailah|title=Overhaul 'lacklustre' halal certification to root out exploitation, report says|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/dec/01/halal-certification-standards-should-be-set-by-government-report-finds|accessdate=1 December 2015|work=The Guardian|date=1 December 2015}} It said that it had heard, "credible reports suggesting that the lack of regulation has been unscrupulously exploited". In tabling the report, committee chairman Sam Dastyari said, "Some certifiers are nothing more than scammers." The inquiry examined claims that fees charged by halal certifiers are used to fund terrorism and found that no evidence supports them.{{cite news|url=http://www.skynews.com.au/news/politics/national/2015/12/01/no-halal-link-to-terror--senate-committee.html|title=No Halal link to terror: Senate committee|date=1 December 2015|work=Sky News|access-date=2 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151201103453/http://www.skynews.com.au/news/politics/national/2015/12/01/no-halal-link-to-terror--senate-committee.html|archive-date=1 December 2015|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-24/senate-inquiry-no-direct-link-between-halal-certification/6801968 |title=No direct link between halal certification and Islamic terrorism, Senate inquiry told |date = 24 September 2015|author=Ockenden, Will|work=ABC|accessdate=2 December 2015}} The inquiry also determined that halal fees are not used to support organised crime in Australia. It also concluded that the fees do not increase the cost of food to Australians, and that the availability of halal certification allows Australian exporters to access very large international markets. The committee recommended a single halal certification authority.{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/nothing-more-than-scammers-senate-committee-calls-for-halal-overhaul-20151201-glcrli.html |title='Nothing more than scammers': Senate committee calls for halal overhaul |author=Aston, Heath|date=2 December 2015|work=Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2 December 2015}} The committee in recommending clearer labelling, specifically referred to the need for meat processors to label products sourced from animals subject to religious slaughter.{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Food_Cert_Schemes/Report/b01 |title= Australian Senate Committee Inquiry Recommendations |date=1 December 2015|work=APH|accessdate=2 December 2015}}

The inquiry could not establish detailed information on names and numbers of non-meat product certifiers.{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Economics/Food_Cert_Schemes/Report |title= Report: Third party certification of food, Chapter 2 - Overview |date=1 December 2015|work=Australian Parliament House|accessdate=5 August 2017}}

On 22 June 2017 Senator Pauline Hanson, the leader of Pauline Hanson's One Nation moved a motion in the Australian Senate calling on the government to respond to the inquiry. The motion was passed.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australia-senator-pauline-hanson-halal-label-food-muslim-one-nation-islam-slaughter-certified-a7810776.html|title=Australia politician wins backing for clearer halal labelling on food|website=Independent.co.uk|date=27 June 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/d8168954-ba68-4fca-9854-908971f0f4c9/&sid=0063|title=Hansard Display|first=Canberra|last=corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House}}

In August 2017, the government said it would consider amending regulations in relation to halal certification for export and also consider standardising the certification of food in the domestic market.{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/govt-flags-changes-to-halal-certification/news-story/fc0e49d1614b05ea675c4d2af6a9c716 |title= Govt flags changes to halal certification |date =2 August 2017 }}

• Central Adelaide Mosque – a halal certifier
• Dhabihah
• Halal certification in India
• Halal certification in Europe
• Halal certification in the Philippines
• Islam in Australia
• Islamic organisations in Australia
• Islamic dietary laws
• Legal aspects of ritual slaughter
• Religion in Australia

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Cookbook|Halal}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150219064959/http://muslimsaustralia.com.au/halal-accreditation/ Australian Federation of Islamic Councils]
• [http://www.halalauthority.org/ Halal Certification Authority Australia]
• [http://www.sichma.com.au/ Supreme Islamic Council of Halal Meat in Australia]
• [http://www.iccv.com.au/ Islamic Co-ordinating Council of Victoria]
• [http://www.icv.org.au/icvdocs/whatishalal.pdf "What is Halal? A Guide for Non-Muslims."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150301114937/http://icv.org.au/icvdocs/whatishalal.pdf |date=1 March 2015 }} A pamphlet by the Islamic Council of Victoria and Muslims Australia/AFIC.

Category:Islam in Australia

Category:Food and drink in Australia

Category:Halal certification