UP bans halal-certified products: What are they and what's the controversy?

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defines Halal Food as that which is permitted under the Islamic Law. "All lawful land animals should be slaughtered in compliance with the rules laid down in the Codex Recommended Code of Hygienic Practice for Fresh Meat," the FAO guidelines say. ALSO READ: Uttar Pradesh bans manufacturing, storage, distribution and sale of halal-certified products One of the many requirement is that the slaughter act should sever the trachea, oesophagus and main arteries and veins of the neck region" of the animal.

According to The Indian Express, vegetarian food would be generally considered permissible or 'halal' unless it contains alcohol. Any consumable item can be deemed 'halal' or 'haram' as per the Islamic law. The FAO guidelines also specify that "when a claim is made that a food is halal, the word halal or equivalent terms should appear on the label".

A Halal certification is a guarantee that the food is prepared adhering to the Islamic law and is unadulterated. In India, halal certification is given by many private companies which marks the food or products permissible for the followers of the Islam. Some of these halal certification bodies are recognised by the Indian government, while others do not have any recognition.

The major halal-certifying organisations in the country include Halal India Pvt Ltd and Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust, news agency PTI reported. The Indian government neither mandates halal certification, nor does it provide a unifying regulatory law. The Food Safety and Standard Authority of India’s (FSSAI) standard certification is the requirement for consumer edible products, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.