Yatnal Urges Centre to Ban Halal Certification Agencies Nationwide

In his letter dated October 23, Yatnal criticized the granting of Halal certification to restaurants, hotels, slaughterhouses and cosmetic products, stating that such practices do not have the right spirit and appeal primarily to Muslim consumers. He alleged that some Islamic organizations were promoting Halal certification of food, meat, cosmetics and other products under the guise of religious identity.

“When there is the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that oversees food safety and regulations, what is the need for multiple Halal certification bodies? Doesn’t this dilute the law?” he asked.

Yatnal cited judicial observations, including the Supreme Court’s 2014 judgment and the 2016 Madras High Court judgment, to support his stance. He argued that Halal certification was governed by Sharia law, which has no legal standing in India, making the practice illegal. “Only FSSAI has the authority to label or certify any product. Other organizations issuing halal certification are acting illegally and should be banned immediately,” he wrote.

He warned that differentiating products based on religious identity could unfairly benefit one community while economically harming others. Highlighting that the Uttar Pradesh government has already banned all Halal certification bodies, Yatnal urged the Center to follow suit, emphasizing that national interest and sovereignty must come before other considerations.