UP Govt bans Halal-certified food, medicines with immediate effect

The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday banned the production, storage, distribution, and sale of food, medicines and cosmetic items with halal certification in the state with immediate effect. The ban has been imposed in the interest of public health and to prevent confusion, officials stated.

The order from the Uttar Pradesh Food Commissioner said, "In the interest of public health, production, storing, distribution and sale of halal certified edible items are banned in Uttar Pradesh with immediate



effect."

The Halal certification ensures that the products and services comply with Islamic law.

The Commissioner's order states that the right to decide the quality of food items lies only with the authorities mentioned under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

"Thus, Halal certification of food products is a parallel system which creates confusion regarding the quality of food items and is completely against the basic intention of the said Act and is not tenable under Section 89 of the said Act," the order states.