DGFT notification to standardize Halal meat exports from India

Recently On 09 February 2026, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) of India issued Notification No. 59/2025-26 titled “Streamlining of Halal Certification Process for Meat and Meat Products”, aimed at simplifying and clarifying export requirements for Halal-certified meat products from India.

Under this notification, the Government of India has expanded and updated the list of countries where Halal certification under the India Conformity Assessment Scheme (I-CAS) – Halal is required for export. The move brings greater predictability and uniformity to exporters servicing international markets with strict Halal import regulations.

What’s changing – News for exporters -

• Halal certification will continue to be mandatory for specified meat and meat products when exporting to countries with Halal import requirements.

• The expanded country list includes 20 additional nations –

• Most of these countries will enforce the updated I-CAS Halal requirement after a two-week transition period from the notification date, while Egypt has been given six months to ensure readiness and onboard certification bodies.

• The rules on who can certify (only NABCB-accredited bodies under QCI’s I-CAS) and core policy conditions remain unchanged.

For exporters, staying updated on the list of applicable countries and ensuring I-CAS Halal certification from NABCB-accredited bodies will be key to seamless market access and compliance.

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