Terms & Conditions for Certification
- The validity term for the halal certification is for three years under Halal Certification Services (HCS) certification system.
- A certification audit will be done in the first year followed by twosurveillance audits in the next two years. When required, a special audit will be conducted.
- HCS shall be solely responsible for, and shall retain authority for all its decisions relating to its halal certification, including granting, maintaining, renewing, extending, reducing, suspending, and withdrawing certification.
- The granting of a halal certification shall be done upon a successful cycle of two level audits followed by a review by HCS granting team of Sharia and technical experts. At all times, the rightful owner of the halal certificate shall be HCS, and it shall be returned as and when deemed necessary by HCS.
- The client shall remain a legal entity, or a defined part of a legal entity, such that the legal entity can be held legally responsible for all its activities.
- The client must always fulfill the certification requirements set by HCS in order to maintain the halal certification, including implementing appropriate changes when they are communicated by HCS.
- All renewals for halal certification must be done six months prior to the date of expiry of the halal certificate; after which the existing halal certificate will no longer be valid.
- If the certification applies to ongoing production, the certified product must continue to fulfill the halal requirements.
- The client shall make all necessary arrangements for the conduct of the evaluation and surveillance (if required), including provision for examining documentation and records, and access to the relevant equipment, location(s), area(s), personnel, and client"s subcontractors.
- The client shall make all necessary arrangements for the investigation of complaints.
- The client shall make all necessary arrangements for the participation of observers.
- The client shall make claims regarding certification consistent with the scope of certification.
- The client shall not use its product certification in such a manner as to bring HCS into disrepute and does not make any statement regarding its product certification that HCS may consider misleading or unauthorized.
- If the client provides copies of the certification documents to others, the documents shall be reproduced in their entirety.
- In making reference to product certification in communication media such as documents, brochures, or advertising, the client shall submit to HCS a copy for vetting and comply with HCS stated herein requirements.
- The client shall comply with any requirements that may be prescribed in the certification scheme relating to the use of marks of conformity, and on information related to the product.
- The client shall keep a record of all complaints made known to it relating to compliance with certification requirements and make these records available to HCS when requested, and take appropriate action with respect to such complaints and any deficiencies found in products that affect compliance with the requirements for certification.
- The client shall inform HCS, without delay, of changes that may affect its ability to conform with the certification requirements.
- The client shall exercise control as specified by the certification scheme over ownership, use, and display of licenses, certificates, marks of conformity, and any other mechanisms for indicating a product is certified.
- Incorrect references to the certification scheme, or misleading use of licenses, certificates, marks, or any other mechanism for indicating a product is certified, found in documentation or other publicity must be avoided.
- The use and display of licenses, halal certificates, and halal marks of conformity shall be prominent, only per the approved ones and in entirety.
- Halal certificate holders who failed to renew their halal certificates will not be allowed to use the halal mark at the premises or on the manufactured halal products/services or inside the grocery shop or supermarket corridors, or any other communication media.
- The halal mark should be printed clearly on all certified halal products and labeled on each box/package. Companies are allowed to print the colored mark suitable to its packaging as long as it does not change the original specification(s) of the mark.
- The certificate holder shall not reproduce the granted halal certificate in part and/or in a way that would hinder the legibility, nor shall tamper with the original copies or photocopies of the halal certificate. He shall not translate the certificate and/or test reports into other languages without the control and consent of HCS.
- Any violations of any of the above clauses (between points 3 – 21) may lead to the suspension, withdrawal, or termination of the halal certification depending on the severity which will be decided by HCS Decision Committee.
- Upon suspension, withdrawal, or termination of certification, the client must discontinue its use of all advertising matter that contains any reference thereto and take action as required by the certification scheme (e.g., the return of certification documents) and take any other required measure.
Office Locations
Halal Certification Services (HCS) certifies companies all over the world. Our locally-based auditors can speak and assist in your local languages. Find the contact details of our offices nearest to you as mentioned below:
Switzerland
Weidenweg 15, 4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
+41 61 813 30 64
+41 61 813 30 65
info@halalcs.org
Germany
Untere Dorfstrasse 74, 78618 Rheinfelden (Baden), Germany
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info@halalcs.eu
Spain/Portugal
Calle Poeta Joan Maragall 60, 2a planta officina no. 10 Plaza Castilla - Madrid, Spain
+34 692 59 50 40
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info@halalcs.es
France
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+33 6 99 42 23 18
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info@halalcs.fr
Greece
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+30 2310 474115
+30 2310 472984
greece@halalcs.org