Uttar Pradesh: CM Yogi Adityanath Bans Halal Products
UP CM Yogi Adityanath has banned food and non-food items with halal certification, alleging unauthorized issuance and linking some certifying bodies to anti-national activities.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has banned the production, storage, distribution, and sale of food products with halal certification with immediate effect. On 17th November 2023, an FIR was lodged in Lucknow by Shailendra Kumar Sharma against the following companies for issuing halal certificates for some products without any authority and based on forged documents -
- Halal India Private Limited Chennai,
- Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust Delhi,
- Halal Council of India Mumbai, and
- Jamiat Ulama Maharashtra
The FIR also noted that this was done by the companies to exploit the religious sentiments of customers of the Muslim community for financial gains and that their managers and owners are involved in anti-national conspiracy, and funding notified terrorist organizations. On 18th November 2023, the state Food Security and Drug Administration – FSDA department – which is under the direct control of CM Adityanath issued the order of immediate banning of manufacture, sale, storage, and distribution of halal-certified products. Halal is an Arabic word that means ‘permissible’ or ‘lawful under Islamic law.’ It is mainly associated with the consumption of meat for Muslims but can also apply to income, work, food ingredients, cosmetic products, and medicines. According to FSDA commissioner Anita Singh, the halal certification was being mentioned on the labels of dairy products, sugar, bakery items, peppermint oil, edible oils, and namkeens. Anita said that only the competent authorities mentioned in Section 29 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, have the right to decide on the quality of food products. She also said that the halal certification was a parallel system that confused consumers & therefore was completely against the intention of FSDA. Anita said that certain medicines, medical devices, and cosmetic products were reported to showcase the Halal certificate on their packaging when there are no provisions for marking Halal certification on labels in the government rules related to drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. Issuing fake certificates for food products & medicines is a punishable offense with a fine of up to Rs 3 lakh under Section 52 of the 2006 FSDA law.
