The Daily Tribune, 8 May 2025: Bahrain’s Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture has issued Bahrain Decision No. 61/2024 to regulate halal production and certification processes.

This legal framework aims to ensure that halal goods meet Islamic rules throughout all stages of preparation and sale, aligning with Bahraini product standards and GCC agreements.

The decision impacts producers and certifying bodies, requiring them to obtain halal certification from the Ministry or recognised entities. Companies must conduct regular internal checks and comply with site visits, sample testing, and production audits by Ministry inspectors to verify adherence to halal standards.

The Ministry oversees requests for halal checks and approves certifying bodies, ensuring their capability to issue certificates. Article 6 of Bahrain Decision No. 61/2024 outlines the responsibilities of these bodies, including collaboration with the Ministry and ensuring compliance by endorsed entities.

Halal audit teams are tasked with inspecting and testing food and services to ensure compliance, with penalties for non-compliance detailed in Article 13 of Bahrain Decision No. 76/2024. The initiative includes developing the Bahrain Halal Platform, an online system for verifying product certification.

For more news and content, try Lexis Middle East. Click on lexis.ae/demo to begin your free trial of Lexis® Middle East platform.

You can also explore the legal landscape by subscribing to our Weekly Newsletter.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.