UP Government Bans ‘Halal-Certified’ Food Products

Lucknow, November 19 (TNA) The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday banned production, storage, distribution and sale of 'Halal-certified' food products, except in cases where this certificate is required for export purposes.

"The action was taken after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognizance of the issue of forged Halal certification by certain agencies, which is legal," said a government spokesperson. Earlier on Friday evening, an FIR was lodged against eight agencies issuing 'forged' Halal certificates to a range of products.

The FIR said that the said companies allegedly issued forged halal certificates to various companies for financial gains, fostering not only social animosity but also violating public trust. The ban order issued by Anita Singh, commissioner, food safety and drug administration, said: "Under Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is the apex body which checks and fixes the quality and standards of food products."