Purpose
Halal is not only a set of permitted and prohibited substances; it carries an ethic of wholesomeness, responsibility, and care. This policy sets out how HCC honours that ethic in its own conduct and encourages it across the operations it certifies.
Scope
This policy applies to HCC's own operations and informs how HCC engages with the operators it certifies. It complements, and does not replace, the specific requirements of each certification scheme.
Halal integrity as an ethic
The concept of tayyib — that which is wholesome and good — sits alongside the requirement that a product be permissible. HCC reflects this by treating integrity, honesty, and care for the consumer as inseparable from the technical work of certification.
A certificate that is technically correct but obtained or used dishonestly fails the spirit of Halal. HCC's integrity, impartiality, and anti-bribery policies are therefore part of how it upholds Halal integrity, not separate from it.
Responsible conduct in our operations
HCC seeks to conduct its own operations responsibly: managing resources prudently, treating personnel and partners fairly, and limiting unnecessary environmental impact in how it works, including its preference for digital records and remote verification where these do not weaken assurance.
The public verification service supports this aim by reducing reliance on paper documentation while strengthening, rather than diluting, the assurance behind a certificate.
Encouraging sustainable practice in certified operations
HCC encourages the operators it certifies to consider animal welfare, responsible sourcing, food safety, and the reduction of waste as natural companions to Halal conformity, in keeping with the wholesomeness that Halal implies.
These are encouragements rooted in the ethic of Halal; the binding requirements for any certificate remain those stated in the applicable scheme and scope.
Honest claims
HCC applies the same honesty to ethical and sustainability claims as to any other. It does not overstate the environmental or ethical credentials of its own operations or of a certified product, and it represents its standing and recognition accurately, through the partner network rather than any claim it does not hold.
Implementation, review & contact
This policy is reviewed at least annually and read alongside HCC's integrity and conduct policies. Questions about this policy may be sent to HCC at info@halalcc.org.
Questions about this policy?
Our team can clarify any point or direct your question to the right people at HCC.