The Uttar Pradesh government has issued an immediate ban on halal-certified food products across the state, covering their production, storage, distribution, and sale, except for items meant for export, Indian Express reported.
This decision comes following a police FIR in Lucknow against a company and three organizations for providing what was termed as “illegal halal certificates” to products sold within the state.
The FIR also included unnamed manufacturing companies and individuals allegedly involved in anti-national activities and funding terror outfits.
The FIR was filed based on a complaint by a BJP youth wing member, stating that some companies were using halal certification to increase sales within a specific community, likening the practice to manipulating public faith.
The ban, declared by the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Anita Singh, cites section 30 (2) (d) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and asserts authority under section 30 (2) (a) of the Act, emphasizing public health concerns.
It claims that halal certification operates as a “parallel system,” causing confusion about food quality.
The order specifies that halal certification is being granted to various food products like dairy items, sugar, bakery products, peppermint oil, ready-to-eat savories, and edible oils, highlighting that the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and its regulatory bodies hold precedence over other food laws.
It emphasizes that the determination of food item quality lies solely with authorities and institutions mandated by the Act, asserting their power over food standards and inspections as per the Act’s provisions.