Halal Foods Registration

The New York State Halal Foods Protection Act of 2005 requires certain businesses and individuals to register with the Department. To find out more about the registry, or to find a registered establishment, please email [email protected].

Packaged and Non-prepackaged Food Processors

Manufacturers, producers, packers, and distributors of food which is certified as halal must register with the Department. This includes food establishments, retailers, restaurants, caterers, and food carts who sell food prepared on their premises or under their control which is represented as halal.

If you are required to register with the Department, you must first complete the Registration Form. You will be asked to provide information based on the food that you work with.

• If the food is in packaged form, the manufacturer or distributor must register the name, address, phone number, and email address of the body certifying the food as halal.
• If the food is not in package form, the person who manufactures, processes, packs, or sells the food must register the name, address, phone number and email address of the body certifying the food as halal.

Certifiers

Individuals, companies, partnerships, associations, or organizations who certify entities as halal are required to register as certifiers including a statement of qualification.

Firms that utilize their own employees or personnel to certify product need to have those employees complete the statement of qualification as well. 

Food Establishments

Food establishments, food retailers, restaurants, caterers, and food carts who sell food prepared on their premises or under their control which is represented as halal must post a halal registration form at their business in a location readily visible by consumers. They must also register with the Department

Posting of Registration Form

Food establishments and caterers selling or offering for sale food or food products prepared on the premises or under their control that are represented as halal shall post a "halal registration form" in a location readily visible to the consumer.

Signage

Retail stores that sell both halal and non-halal foods require a window sign with block letters at least four inches in height that states “HALAL AND NON-HALAL MEAT SOLD HERE” or “HALAL AND NON-HALAL FOOD SOLD HERE.”

Records

Wholesale and retail firms that purchase halal meat and poultry or food products that include meat and poultry shall retain the invoices or bill of sales for those products for a period of two years.

Meat and poultry, or food products that include meat and poultry, are exempt from this record keeping if the manufacturer’s or packer’s name, address, and certifying person are listed on the package containers.

Advertisement

Any advertisement for food or food products representing the products as halal shall identify the name of the person or entity certifying the product as halal.

The responsibility for registering the person or organization who certifies a food as halal and for filing information about products offered for sale as halal depends on whether or not the food is in package form. A food is in package form when it is not intended to be consumed at the point of manufacture and is packaged in advance of sale in units suitable for retail sale. Read below for more information about the different filing and registration requirements:

• If the food is in package form, the producer or distributor must register the name, address, phone number and email address of the person who certified the food as halal with the Department.
• If the food is not in package form, the person who manufactures, processes, packs, or sells it must register the name, address, phone number and email address of the halal certifier with the Department.
• Halal certifiers who certify non-packaged food must register with the Department a statement of their qualifications to provide halal certification. The statement may include background, training, education, experience, and any other information that shows the halal certifier's qualifications.
• Food establishments, restaurants, and caterers that prepare and sell food as kosher on their premises must file the name, address, phone number and email address of the halal certifier with the Department. They must also complete a “Halal Registration Form,” file it with the Department and post the form in their establishment in a location readily visible to consumers.

If any of the information filed with the Department changes, the person who filed it must notify the Department of the changes as quickly as possible.

Filing must be done 30 days in advance of offering or distributing food as halal in New York.

Please download the registration documents below or you may register online here.