• What is the ruling on additive numbers used in various consumables?
• My local butcher in Leicester has informed me that HMC charges £500 monthly for certification. Can you please confirm whether this is correct?
• If an outlet is not certified but good appearing Muslims are seen consuming from that particular outlet, does it not mean that it is Halal?
• When will HMC expand in other towns and cities?
• How can we (concerned Muslims) help promote HMC's activities in new areas?
• How often do the HMC inspectors walk into the slaughterhouses to check?
• What are the different types of products certified by HMC?
• Has HMC now become a business due to it acquiring the status of a Limited Company?
• Why talk about Halal food? Should we not talk first and foremost: Taqwa, Sunnah, Salah, Zina, Drugs and Interest?
• Why is there no take up of Halal HMC certificate among the takeaways in Leicester in a quicker way? Only four in the last two years? What is HMC doing about this?
• Does a non-Muslim serving HMC product render it Haram when it is slaughtered and approved by HMC?
• Is it only the aspect of stunning which HMC monitors, and are abattoirs that do not apply stunning methods automatically considered suitable for HMC approval and certification?
• Does HMC accept and certify stunned meat or poultry?
• Does HMC consider non-HMC certified meat and poultry to be Haram?
• What were the problems which led to the formation of HMC?
• How can I tell if a chicken is certified by HMC?
• If a certificate is displayed at a butcher, does it mean all the items sold are certified?
• Will there be a label or tag on the red meat?
• How do I know if my local Butcher is certified by HMC or not?
• Should there be price rise due to HMC certification system?
• Can I help promoting the system by financial means?
• If I see a product marked as Halal or I am given assurance by the distributor or retailer that the product is Halal, am I not supposed to believe him?
  
• Does HMC consider non-HMC certified meat and poultry to be Haram?
• Does HMC have Ulama within the board committee of HMC?
• Does the HMC inspect the abattoirs or the butchers?
• If I purchased a non-Halal consumable, will it not be sufficient to say 'Bismillah' before eating it in order to render it Halal due to the following hadith? ; Aisha RA narrated, “A group of people said to the Prophet PBUH, “Some people bring us meat and we do not know whether they mentioned Allah's name or not upon it (i.e. when slaughtering it)?” So he PBUH replied, “Mention Allah's name on it and eat.” The people who were being referred to had embraced Islam recently,” (Al-Bukhari)
• Some meat factories in the western countries deliberately do not drain the blood from the animal after slaughter, so that it will weigh more and they will thus make more money from it. What is the ruling on eating this meat?
• Is HMC a non-profit making organisation?
• For what reason does HMC revoke a certificate from a certified store?
• Is there any chance of such stores being re-certified by HMC in the future?

1. What is the ruling on additive numbers used in various consumables?

HMC currently only deals with the meat and poultry sector and therefore is not in a situation to respond to any other ingredient enquiry. However, it is advisable to refer to GMWA, a very reliable (Ulama managed) organisation dealing with Halal ingredients and Halal products. You may also submit a question on their website. Please refer to www.gmwa.org.uk/foodguide or www.foodguide.org.uk

2. My local butcher in Leicester has informed me that HMC charges £500 monthly for certification. Can you please confirm whether this is correct?

Not true. HMC has never charged £500 a month to any butcher for certification. In areas (towns/cities) where outlets are certified the monitors in each area are required to make inspection visits daily to ensure the outlet meets HMC standards. Many monitors are volunteers and some are paid for their services.

Before and up to February 2007, the takeaways and restaurants were charged £50 monitoring fee monthly. The butchers were not charged (except for London area). This procedure was not standardised and was objected to by many food outlet owners.

As the number of outlets increased and the number of areas (towns/cities) increased the number of monitors had to increase also. For reliable and efficient work, it is necessary that monitors do get paid particularly for their hours, travel expenses, etc.

It was no longer affordable to pay all monitors by the adminstration department, particularly as they increased unpredictably. (The more areas and the more outlets signified more monitors).

After much consideration and consultation within NEC, it was agreed to standardise the outlet charging structure throughout the UK for all outlets; i.e. butchers, takeaways and restaurants. A feasible and nominal amount was considered and then announced to be £30 per month (approx £1 per day). This means a reduction in the amount for takeaways and restaurants (from £50 to £30) and new charges introduced to some butchers.

Although not sufficient, this amount will be contributed to cover the costs of local activities and the local monitors in each area. (The total income will still not meet the total local expenditure even if calculated on minimum wage). The charge is for monitoring services. The means that certificates, publicity on the web and in newsletters, overhead administration, etc., still remains free of charge.

The outlets averagely sell over a hundred items a day. This means if they increase 1p per item, they shall at least cover the costs of monthly monitoring if not more.

In addition, the outlets shall be part of the struggle in fulfilling the obligation, rewarded to support a worthy Islamic cause and make a source of sadaqah jariyah for them. Better still, they shall be releived from the responsibility of investigating in the Halalness of the item before buying and selling a product.

A nominal fee has been applied on the abattoirs & processors for the certification system which includes cost of equipment, inspector's wages and admin cost. In general, estimated total charge at large abattoirs would be between 0.0075p (three quarter of a pence) to 0.02p (two pence) per chicken and between 0.003 to 0.005p (half pence or less) per kilo of lamb/sheep. Takeaways are charged £30 monthly (approx £1.00 per day) to cover the costs of monitoring and certification.

It is hoped the readers can now understand how nominal the fees are and how certain people are misleading the consumers and accusing HMC of being a money making organisation. It is also hoped that readers realise the financial needs of HMC and support wholeheartedly in this vital cause.

3. If an outlet is not certified but good appearing Muslims are seen consuming from that particular outlet, does it not mean that it is Halal?

Primarily, it is the policy of HMC not to comment on non certified products or non certified outlets as it does not monitor their products. HMC can only comment on products and outlets that are monitored and inspected by HMC.

However, it is worth mentioning that in many cases the outlets proprietors themselves (let alone the consumers) are not aware of the corrupt slaughter practices and the problematic issues in the industry. They merely place their trust in the covering package plastered with ‘Halal’. It is a fact that the word Halal has become the most abused word and can be used on anything by anyone at anyplace. Therefore, ‘good appearing Muslims’ seen consuming at particular outlets generally does not prove anything. The Shar’i obligation still remains to investigate further (individually or collectively).

What is even more worrying is that some outlets had displayed letters and notices verifying the Halalness of their products and upon enquiry it was discovered that their ‘certification standards’ included the acceptability of stunning, mechanical slaughter and even non recitation of Bismillah! Subhanallah, all the conditions of Halal abandoned and then not only labelled ‘Halal’ but verified and certified as ‘Halal’! So now according to them what remains Haram?

It is time that all, ‘good appearing Muslims’, scholars, students, brothers, sisters, butchers, outlets and suppliers get together and assist each other in the campaign of cleaning up the market and providing genuine Halal products. According to a research the statistics show that over 90% of Halal labelled meat and poultry in the UK is in actual fact, doubtful. It is time to wake up!

4. When will HMC expand in other towns and cities?

It is not possible for the current staff and volunteers to cover other areas due to the shortage of man power and resources. However, we recommend that the concerned Muslims of these areas join HMC and promote its activities in their areas by monitoring local outlets. We will give all necessary assistance and guidance.

5. How can we (concerned Muslims) help promote HMC's activities in new areas?

• Create awareness in the public regarding what they intake, the corrupt practices implemented in the 'Halal' meat trade and the need to establish a stringent monitoring system.
  
  
• Encourage each other to purchase HMC certified products which may be available at your local butchers. These items should be accompanied with the HMC certification devices. If they are not available, ask your butcher to provide certified items from HMC certified sources.
  
  
• Form a local group to promote the system on a larger scale and to monitor and certify local outlets to ensure all products are from certified sources. Please contact the head office at this stage for further help and guidance.
  

6. How often do the HMC inspectors walk into the slaughterhouses to check?

HMC inspectors are constantly present at the slaughterhouses during the slaughter process.

7. What are the different types of products certified by HMC?

Fresh Beef, Lamb / Sheep Meat, Fresh Poultry and their by products, Donners, Kebabs, Burgers, Polonys, Sausages, samoosas, etc.

8. Has HMC now become a business due to it acquiring the status of a Limited Company?

Historically HMC was an unincorporated association running as a not for profit organisation and the not for profit element is still in place.

If a legal issue were to arise from the local authority, Inland Revenue, or another body matters can be directed at an individual or individuals. That is an unsatisfactory situation as it places not only those directly working for HMC at risk but also it's members. We could not let a situation arise where an issue regarding VAT, Council Tax or any other matter that could be directly aimed at individuals.

In order to secure this, HMC has now achieved a 'Company Limited by Guarantee' status.  What this means is that the organisation will continue to serve the Ummah on a not for profit basis.  However, it will now have protection under a limited status whereby if a liability does fall on HMC by a local authority or any other organisation, that liability will be limited to just £1.00.

9. Why talk about Halal food? Should we not talk first and foremost: Taqwa, Sunnah, Salah, Zina, Drugs and Interest?

HMC acknowledges and supports the various movements, missions and works of Islam. Whilst ackowledging the importance of all the basic tenets of Islam, we feel that the ensuring of Halal intake is a massively important issue that needs to be tackled.  Thus we are commiting ourselves in ensuring this area is not neglected. The Almighty says in the Qur'an: "Oh Mankind, eat of the lawful from what is in this earth, and do not follow in the footsteps of the devil, surely he is your open enemy." (2: 168).

Other areas of Islam are important and are being tackled by other entities who we give our full support.

10. Why is there no take up of Halal HMC certificate among the takeaways in Leicester in a quicker way? Only four in the last two years? What is HMC doing about this?

HMC's original aim was to certify the meat courses, which it is still currently doing.  The certification of takeaways is something which is aimed for, but on a secondary level, due to it not being our fundamental aim.  It can only be tackled by advancements and full co-operation from the takeaways.  If they can do this, certification will become very easy.

11. Does a non-Muslim serving HMC product render it Haram when it is slaughtered and approved by HMC?

There are only 3 things which affect meat in regards to it being Halal or Haram:

1. Slaughter has to be done by a Muslim with Tasmiyyah
   
2. The constitution of the meat, i.e. their blood or any impure thing in it or any Haram ingredient added to it, would render it Haram.
3. The money being used to purchase it

Thus in the light of the above, a non-Muslim handling or selling the meat would not render it Haram

12. Is it only the aspect of stunning which HMC monitors, and are abattoirs that do not apply stunning methods automatically considered suitable for HMC approval and certification?

Stunning is not the only problem which confronts the Halal meat industry. There are many conditions and requirements of slaughter which if not adhered to can render it Haram. As well as ensuring that animals are not stunned, therefore, the HMC certification system also constantly monitors at the site of slaughter that animals are manually slaughtered, the slaughtering is done by a Muslim, the slaughterer verbally mentions the name of Allah on each slaughter, all the necessary veins are cut, no cross-contamination of non-certified meat/poultry or their parts takes place, the temperature of the dip tank remains within a certain level, etc. Since the only way to ascertain that all of these conditions are met is by physical monitoring, HMC approval and certification can only be accorded where that has taken place. Unfortunately, there are many places where due to the speed of the killing line or some other reasons, some of the above conditions are not met which can render some or all products non Halal.

13. Does HMC accept and certify stunned meat or poultry?

No. Part of our criteria is that animals are not stunned. For further details please refer to the Issues of Stunning section.

14. Does HMC consider non-HMC certified meat and poultry to be Haram?

No. We do not comment on non-HMC certified products. We can only say that they are not certified by HMC as they do not meet our standards or have not been monitored.

15. What were the problems which led to the formation of HMC?
The Halal Monitoring Committee has found many instances where: the verbal recital of the Tasmiyah had been omitted; the stunning had killed the animal before slaughter; the minimum required amount of vessels had not been severed; living animals had found their way into the de-feathering tank to be killed in the scalding hot water, which can also cause the innards to explode even in the killed animals. All of these situations render the animal Haram*.

HMC aims to eradicate all such circumstances which can result in what was supposed to be Halal meat turning into dead, Haram meat by having HMC approved, trained inspectors who are educated in the relevant fields of Islamic Jurisprudence present at the time of the slaughtering. HMC wishes to implement a rigid set of protocols and regulations to ascertain a total doubt-free environment.

16. How can I tell if a chicken is certified by HMC?

Check if there is a HMC coloured, serialised label on the chicken. There may not be a label on the chicken if it's cut in to pieces. Therefore, either ask for the labelled chicken to be seen before the cutting process or check if the HMC certificate is on display or not. If it is displayed then it would mean that all the fresh meat & poultry in that shop is certified by HMC.

17. If a certificate is displayed at a butcher, does it mean all the items sold are certified?

The HMC certificates state the list of items certified. It is advisable to check the certificate and read the list of items. The certificate on display in butcher/grocery shops covers all kinds of fresh lamb meat, fresh sheep meat and fresh chicken meat. HMC approved frozen meat products and others (Baby Food Jars) are generally available but are not currently covered by the certificate on display.

18. Will there be a label or tag on the red meat?

No. the red meat is stamped using the HMC moulded stamp.

19. How do I know if my local Butcher is certified by HMC or not?

See if the HMC license (certificate) is displayed or not. Alternatively, visit our Certified Butchers page or call us on 0870 240 7267.

20. Should there be price rise due to HMC certification system?

No. HMC has not charged the Butchers for certification. However, a nominal fee has been applied on the abattoirs & processors for the certification system which includes cost of equipment, inspector's wages and admin cost of £75-£250 monthly. Estimated calculation would be less than 1/2p per kilo. Therefore if there is a price rise, it would be very minor.

21. Can I help promoting the system by financial means?

Yes. Please send all donations to Halal Monitoring Committe, 83 Rolleston Street, Leicester, LE5 3SD.

22. If I see a product marked as Halal or I am given assurance by the distributor or retailer that the product is Halal, am I not supposed to believe him?

The answer is that even then you must investigate. The main reason being is that today we are living in an era in which deceiving, cheating and being unfaithful has become prevalent within our society. This unfortunate state of affairs is something that was foretold by our beloved Prophet PBUH in the following hadith; Imran bin Hussain RA reported that Allah's Messenger PBUH said:

“The best of this nation is the generation within whom I have been sent then those people who will come after them. Then a people will emerge who will make vows and not fulfill them, they will deceive and they cannot be trusted…” (Musnad Ahmad)

When the current situation is such, we as Muslims have no choice but to be at the top of our guard and practice upon the following verse:

“O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information then investigate…” (49:6)

Unfortunately today swearing oaths in the name of Allah is seen as a cheap bargain to earn a few pounds. Therefore when we have the right to be inquisitive and the resources to investigate, exercise them!

23. Does HMC consider non-HMC certified meat and poultry to be haram?

No. we do not comment on non-HMC certified products. We can only say it is not certified by HMC as it does not adhere to our standards.

24. Does HMC have Ulama within the board committee of HMC?

Yes. We have many Ulama within the board and support of many senior Ulama. See our page for their letters of support.

25. Does the HMC inspect the abattoirs or the butchers?

Our trained inspectors inspect the abattoirs and then regular spot checks are taken place at the certified butchers as well.

26. If I purchased a non-Halal consumable, will it not be sufficient to say 'Bismillah' before eating it in order to render it Halal due to the following hadith? ; Aisha RA narrated, “A group of people said to the Prophet PBUH, “Some people bring us meat and we do not know whether they mentioned Allah's name or not upon it (i.e. when slaughtering it)?” So he PBUH replied, “Mention Allah's name on it and eat.” The people who were being referred to had embraced Islam recently,” (Al-Bukhari)

The answer is NO. This hadith, unfortunately, is one of the most misused and misunderstood hadith by the general public. Therefore it is extremely important to be acquainted with the correct implications of this hadith, and in general any hadith, before jumping to any conclusions. In the afore mentioned hadith, the people who approached the Prophet PBUH were inquiring about the meat they were receiving from a tribe which had newly embraced Islam, whether the requisites of Dhabihah, the most important of them being the recital of Bismillah at the time of slaughter had been fulfilled.

The reason they posed this question was that they were uncertain whether these new - muslims were aware of this ruling or not. Therefore in the light of this uncertainty what were they to do with this meat, consume it or throw it away? Their questioning was not in regards to how to make non Dhabihah meat halal. The Prophet PBUH answered their question in the most eloquent style by reminding them of their responsibility which was to recite bismillah before eating and then partake of the meal. Indirectly the Prophet PBUH had told them that this concern should not arise when the meat is being provided by a good Muslim. When a consumable is provided by a good muslim there should stand no doubt that the consumable is shariah compliant and Islamically edible. The answer of the Prophet PBUH by no way means that by saying bismillah on non-dhabihah items, the item will be rendered Halal. May Allah give us all the correct understanding. Ameen!

27. Some meat factories in the western countries deliberately do not drain the blood from the animal after slaughter, so that it will weigh more and they will thus make more money from it. What is the ruling on eating this meat?

Answered by to Shaykh ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Jibreen, may Allah preserve him, as follows:

Leaving the blood in the animal after slaughter and not draining it is haraam and is not permitted. Allah  says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: Al-Maytah (dead animals – cattle-beast not slaughtered), blood…” [al-Maa’idah 5:3]

28. Is HMC a non-profit making organisation?

Yes indeed. HMC is a voluntary non-profit making organisation set up to serve the Ummah. For further details contact the office.

29. For what reason does HMC revoke a certificate from a certified store?

HMC operates a policy of continuous inspections at HMC certified stores. Certificates are revoked on the basis of finding non HMC certified products in store. Certified stores are not allowed to store such products as duty bound by the agreement and hence, failing to adhere to this, results in certificates or licences being revoked as an immediate action.

30. Is there any chance of such stores being re-certified by HMC in the future?

Yes, upon meeting the requirements stated in the agreement which also includes getting rid of non certified products and allowing further monitoring and inspections for a period of 2-4 weeks without certification. However, the general public is advised to look out for the HMC certificates on display for a source of assurance.

If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to contact the HMC.