USDEC is alerting members to the potential of "New GCC Halal Import Requirements Scheduled for Implementation April 1." Due to the potential for changes in Halal certification requirements in GCC countries, USDEC is providing this notification so that you can begin to make preparations to obtain Halal certification, should the new requirements impact your exports to the region. 

For background, the GCC countries are moving towards the implementation of a new harmonized health certificate to be used for dairy imports in all six member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE) and additional Halal certification requirements for select dairy products. The new GCC requirements are included in Appendix 5 of the "GCC Guide For Control On Imported Foods," which was most recently updated and notified to the WTO in December 2016. The WTO notification states that the Guide will be implemented from April 1 and will come into force October 1 of this year (2017). The implementation date has been pushed back numerous times in the past, so it is unclear at this point whether these enforcement dates may change.

The U.S. government is currently in discussions with GCC member states regarding the implementation of the Guide, including the model health certificate for milk and milk products and the Halal certificate format. The U.S. government is also negotiating whether this specific Halal form must be used or another format may be accepted. Until further notice, exporters should continue using the standard AMS Sanitary Certificate for shipments to GCC member states. If any exporter is asked to provide the model certificate in the GCC Import Guide, please notify USDEC.

The GCC Import Guide notes in Appendix 5 that the following dairy products (listed by Codex food category) will require Halal certificates:

• 1.2: Fermented and renneted milk products (plain), excluding food category 01.1.2 (dairy-based drinks)
• 1.2.2: Renneted milk (plain)
• 1.4.4: Cream analogues
• 1.6: Cheese (all)
• 1.7: Dairy-based desserts (e.g., pudding, fruit or flavored yoghurt)
• 1.8:  Whey and whey products, excluding whey cheeses
• 13.1: Infant formula

USDEC will continue to monitor the situation and keep members updated. Members are encouraged to watch the Hot Topics section of the USDEC website for more details.  If you have any questions, please contact Jonathan Gardner(jgardner@usdec.org) or Sandra Benson (sbenson@usdec.org).