Halal in Russia: the jungle of certifications threatens a booming market

Gathered for the first time in Kazan, capital of the Tatarstan, as part of the Panrusse of Halal industry, professionals and religious leaders have sounded the alarm: Russia would hold the sad record for the number of organizations delivering halal certificates without real religious or technical expertise. A phenomenon that harms market credibility and complicates export to Muslim countries. In parallel, the Halal standards committee of the Tatarstan Muslim spiritual council is continuing its internationalization efforts. Mutual recognition agreements have been signed with several countries, including Kazakhstan, Belarus and the Gulf States, facilitating the export of certified products – mainly dairy, meat and sweet products – whose sales already exceed $ 8 million in 2025.

But on the internal market, the lack of unified standards, the lack of official register of certificateurs and dubious commercial practices slow down the structuring of the sector. Companies are demanding state intervention: financial support compatible with Islamic principles, non -refundable subsidies, and a legal framework that harmonizes standards and protects consumers.

Faced with the proliferation of unreliable actors, the religious authorities propose the creation of a national “halal filter”: a transparent system of registration of certifiers, including their qualifications, their contact details and the complete traceability of the products. The objective is to restore the confidence of Muslim consumers and to secure international outlets, especially in Southeast Asia and in the member countries of the OIC.

The current dynamics bear witness to the growing importance of the Islamic economy in Russia, notably in Tatarstan, a pioneer region in terms of halal standards. If the ambitions are there, their concretization will go through reinforced coordination between state, religious authorities and economic world – a sine qua non condition so that Russia becomes a credible player on the Halal global market.