Turkey Secures Halal Certifications

- The Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) was established by law on November 1, 2017, and is the sole authority for halal accreditation in Turkey, affiliated with the Ministry of Trade. Its mandate includes accrediting domestic and international halal conformity assessment bodies and representing Turkey in international halal-related organizations. - This centralization aims to harmonize standards and overcome technical barriers to trade in the global halal market, which is complicated by a dispersed structure of various standards and certification schemes. HAK's operations are designed to align with the standards set by the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), an affiliated body of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to foster a unified halal quality infrastructure. - The global halal market is projected to reach between $7.45 trillion and $10 trillion within the next five years, expanding beyond food to include finance, tourism, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Turkey's share of this market has grown to over $150 billion, with a goal of reaching over $400 billion. - Non-Muslim consumers are a growing segment of the halal market, attracted by the perception of safety, hygiene, quality, and ethical production associated with halal-certified products. This trend is broadening the market appeal of halal goods beyond the world's 1.8 billion Muslim consumers. - Technology is playing a significant role in modernizing halal certification, with AI, blockchain, and IoT being used to enhance transparency, traceability, and efficiency. AI algorithms can analyze ingredient lists for non-halal components, while blockchain provides immutable records of a product's journey from farm to consumer. - Turkey's Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) began accepting accreditation applications in October 2019 and granted its first accreditation to the Turkish Standards Institution (TSE) on December 31, 2019. HAK has since accredited various international bodies, including organizations in the US, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, and has signed a cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan. - The concept of "halal" extends to packaging, ensuring that materials are free from forbidden substances and have not been contaminated during production, storage, or transportation. The global halal packaging market was valued at approximately $288.69 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow significantly. - The Halal Accreditation Agency is set to host the 1st International Halal Accreditation Congress in Ankara from April 6-8, 2026. This event aims to bring together scientists, industry stakeholders, and public authorities to discuss the halal conformity assessment ecosystem and foster international collaboration.