In a surprise move that sparked widespread controversy in the popular, economic and religious circles, the Egyptian government announced a permanent exemption for dairy products imported from US From the condition of obtaining a “halal” certificate when it enters the Egyptian market.
While the government justified the decision as part of a package of facilities to enhance trade and attract investments, opponents warned of his dangers of the confidence of the Muslim consumer and a reputation. Egypt In the global halal products market.
Decision background and its details
The announcement of the decision came by Egyptian Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly during the Egyptian -American Economic Forum that was held last May, where he made it clear that the exemption will always and continue until the end of 2025 without any fees, provided that a fee of $ 1500 is imposed for each container starting in 2026.
According to government statements, the decision aims to support the expansion of American companies in the Egyptian market and reduce administrative and financial burdens on importers.
The position of the regulatory and regulatory authorities
An official source in the Egyptian General Authority for Specifications and Quality stated – asking not to be named – that a “halal sign” is included as a technical demand in some standard specifications, but it is not a general legal condition, but rather applied mainly to foods with an animal source.
He explained that the halal certificate is officially required in the import of meat and poultry only, as the Ministry of Agriculture requires that the shipments be accompanied by a certificate issued by an approved and recognized Islamic authority from the Dar al -Iftaa, while the request for certification in dairy products is left to estimate the supervisory authorities according to the nature of the product and the targeted market.
According to the official website of the authority, 4 authorities are issued to issue “halal” certificates in Egypt:
- The Standards and Quality Authority as the only legal authority authorized to issue the mark.
- Dar Al -Iftaa to approve the external Islamic bodies.
- The Veterinary Services Authority to supervise the import of animal products.
- Export and Import Control Authority to review imported shipping documents.
Facilitating investment and lowering prices
The President of the General Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, Ahmed Al -Wakeel, said that exempting dairy products and their derivatives from the condition of halal certificate is a practical step in the face of high prices, and will support the presence of foreign companies in Egypt by facilitating procedures and reducing costs.
In his interview with Al -Jazeera Net, he stressed that the halal certificate has become a “global Business” managed by “Mavigate” complex, noting that Islamic countries previously tried to unify the mechanism of issuing the certificate through the chambers of commerce, but it collided with political and religious complications.
The agent called for the unification of the conditions and standards for halal certificate at the level of the Islamic world, explaining that some companies were forced to bear additional expenses that are not commensurate with the nature of the product, which raises the final price of the consumer without realistic justification.
Dr. Hani Fahim, a professor of international commercial law, agrees with him, who indicated that the decision to cancel the condition of a “halal” certificate for some commodities reduces the burdens on the importers, and serves the commercial interests of Egypt, especially since the procedures for obtaining the certificate are complex and costly and include religious external supervision, which also causes the import time to be prolonged directly.
Religious and cultural reservations and doubts
Despite economic justifications, the decision raises religious and cultural questions, as Fahim indicates that Egypt relies on halal certificates from external parties as a result of their inability to examine all imported products, which makes relying on accredited bodies an organizational necessity to ensure commodities commitment to Sharia. And it confirms that dispensing with these certificates opens the door for suspicion, even if the economic benefits are clear.
For his part, Mahmoud Al -Asqalani, president of the “Citizens Against the Expelling” Association, expressed his concerns that the exemption will extend in the future to other products of a more sensitive legal nature, such as meat. He explained to Al -Jazeera Net that the exemption decision is not directly sensitive to dairy products, but he warned that circulating the approach to the slaughtered may weaken the confidence of the Egyptian consumer, as it may harm Egypt’s reputation in the markets of Islamic countries.
Al -Asqalani emphasized that the control controls are the only guarantee to reassure the Muslim consumer, and that dispensing with them or indulgence in their application may lead to erosion of this confidence, especially in the absence of a unified system to issue a halal certificate in Egypt.
The global commercial dimension of the “Halal” certificate
Economist Alaa Hassaballah, a member of the Board of Directors of the Scientific Society for Food Industries and Professor of Market Economics at Alexandria University, stressed that the exemption does not mean abandoning the “halal” system, noting that the certificate is granted by licensed bodies and works in accordance with recognized international specifications.
Hassaballah explained that the concept of “halal” exceeded the religious dimension and has become one of the tools of commercial organization, and is used as a non -customs barrier to organize the market and protect local production, or even within the pressure and response tools of economic partners. He added that the project of establishing a unified Egyptian body to issue a halal certificate has not been completed yet, despite the urgent need for it to ensure transparency and organization.
He pointed out that the halal certificate was not strictly applied to dairy products in the first place, but rather was used in a precautionary manner according to the preferences of the consumer or the requirements of some markets, without a clear legal basis as is the case in some Islamic countries.
Between reform and negligence
For his part, the former deputy in the House of Representatives, Haitham Hariri, considered that the most important thing about the presence or absence of halal is the availability of real control over the quality and safety of products. He explained that the halal testimony “is not fundamental in the case of dairy,” but he asked in his speech to Al -Jazeera Net: “If the testimony is not necessary, then why did you ask at all?”
Hariri expressed his fear that the decision would be part of unannounced commercial pledges within bilateral agreements with Washington, or neglecting a condition as long as the Egyptian consumer granted confidence. He also warned that the move may weaken Egypt’s ambition to launch a global “Egyptian halal” sign for export, stressing that “halal” has become a consumer culture and a global brand that celebrates countries like Malaysia ويوده.
As for MP Abdel Moneim Imam, head of the Justice Party, he welcomed the decision if he was part of a comprehensive government plan to restructure the administrative apparatus without prejudice to the legal principles. He explained that Egypt is under the weight of tens of thousands of laws and decisions that hinder investment, adding: “In this context, the simplicity is a Mahmoud.”
Imam stressed that the controls set by the Egyptian Food Safety Authority are sufficient to ensure the quality and safety of products, without the need for additional conditions that may delay or hinder the arrival of goods to the markets.
Reducing the burdens that do not neglect the controls
The spokesperson for the Council of Ministers, Ambassador Mohamed Al -Homsani – said in a statement to Al -Jazeera Net – that the decision aims to reduce the burdens on importers by allowing an increase in the number of authorities authorized to issue halal certificates for goods that are still subject to this condition, with the aim of enhancing competition and preventing monopoly.
In response to concerns about importing products that may contain components incompatible with Islamic law, Al -Homsani stressed that companies will be obligated to completely disclose the components of their products, and that the Ministry of Agriculture is the authority responsible for the technical aspects related to this file.
He stressed that the decision came in response to multiple complaints about the high fees and the length of procedures, as part of a broader plan to simplify regulations in various economic sectors.