The Punjab Halal Development Agency Act 2016

The Punjab Halal Development Agency Act 2016 is promulgated on 6 December 2016 to establish the Punjab Halal Development Agency to regulate and promote the trade of halal food and non-food products in the Province of Punjab. According to the preamble of this ordinance, it is necessary to establish Punjab Halal Development Agency to promote the trade of halal food and non-food products, to regulate halal processes of trade and commerce in the Province and to ensure the implementation of uniform Halal Standard and directions of the Pakistan Halal Authority, and to deal with other related matters.

In the Ordinance Food is defined as, it includes every article manufactured, sold or represented for use as food or drink for human consumption or which enters into or is used in the composition, preparation, preservation of any food or drink and includes confectionery, chewing substances and any ingredient of such food, drink, confectionery or chewing substances.

Halal is defined in this Ordinance as, Halal means anything which is not Haram or Najis and is considered halal by the laws of Islam.

Punjab Halal Development Agency is established by this Ordinance is responsible mainly for issuance of domestic halal certificate to the food manufacturers. It will issue Halal License certifying that the plant, production facility, food premises, slaughterhouse or abattoir, or the establishment handling food has been approved to produce, distribute or market halal food and the items listed.