UK wants to boost halal meat exports

The British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) is preparing a new accreditation system for exports of halal sheep meat from animals stunned before slaughter. This system, developed with professionals in the sector and the British government, will be accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). It is inspired in particular by the model already used for several years in New Zealand. The aim is to assure overseas buyers that meat produced in the UK meets internationally recognized halal standards. Compliant slaughterhouses and processing sites may display a specific mark attesting to compliance with the specifications.

For the BMPA, this program should allow British exporters to access new markets and strengthen the competitiveness of the sheep industry. It could also reassure importers about traceability, slaughter methods and the integrity of the products offered. A committee bringing together different players in the sector will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the system. Its role will be in particular to define the certification criteria and to ensure that the companies concerned can participate in its development. The British Minister for Animal Welfare, Baroness Hayman, welcomed an initiative which should strengthen the confidence of importing countries in British production standards, while opening new commercial prospects for the sector.

With this program, the United Kingdom is clearly seeking to better position itself in the international halal market, particularly in countries where the demand for sheep meat is significant. The creation of a national accreditation can constitute a real commercial advantage, provided that its criteria are clearly defined and recognized by the religious authorities and certification bodies of the importing countries. The question of stunning will, however, remain central. Religious practices and opinions differ between markets, and some consumers or certification bodies refuse certain stunning methods. The success of the program will therefore depend as much on its technical credibility as on its acceptance by religious halal stakeholders.