Source:  The Libya Observer

Kawaguchiko, Japan – Serious concerns regarding the integrity of Brazil’s halal meat certification system have been raised by Libyan religious authorities following an investigative delegation’s visit to the South American nation.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Qadoua, a senior member of Libya’s Fatwa Committee who participated in the fact-finding mission, has highlighted significant shortcomings in Brazil’s halal certification oversight mechanisms that could compromise the authenticity of meat products exported to Muslim countries.

Inadequate Inspection Protocols

“Our investigation revealed that access to Brazilian slaughterhouses is only granted after prior coordination with facility management—essentially allowing them to select the visitation date and prepare accordingly,” Sheikh Qadoua explained. This practice raises questions about the everyday adherence to halal standards when inspectors are not present.

The Sheikh noted that Brazil exports approximately 47 tonnes of meat globally annually, with products divided between halal and non-halal categories. “There are insufficient safeguards to prevent the mixing of these different product streams,” he warned.

Systemic Oversight Deficiencies

The investigation uncovered alarming operational gaps in Brazil’s certification system. Sheikh Qadoua emphasized that in some instances, a single inspector is responsible for monitoring four separate facilities spread hundreds of kilometers apart, making comprehensive oversight virtually impossible.

“Proper halal certification requires continuous monitoring throughout the entire process—from the moment of slaughter until the meat is sealed in shipping containers,” Qadoua stated. “Our findings indicate this level of supervision is not currently being implemented.”

Documented Irregularities

To underscore the potential consequences of these oversight failures, Sheikh Qadoua cited several troubling incidents:

• A shipment of chicken contaminated with heroin intercepted by Libyan authorities
• A pork consignment exported to the UAE bearing unauthorized halal certification stamps
• A 2012 case where Kuwait’s Ministry of Health discovered Brazilian chicken sausages adulterated with pork meat and fat

Official Religious Ruling

In March, Libya’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Sadiq Al-Ghariani issued a formal statement declaring that meat imported from Brazil is slaughtered in ways that violate Islamic law, rendering it impermissible for consumption by Muslims.

Al-Ghariani explained that the Libyan Dar al-Ifta (Fatwa House) commissioned a comprehensive 15-day investigation by a Research Council delegation to Brazil specifically to examine slaughtering practices. Their findings conclusively determined that the procedures do not comply with Islamic guidelines.

Proposed Solutions

In response to these concerns, the committee has proposed two potential solutions to protect the integrity of meat in the Libyan market:

1. Deploy a dedicated Libyan inspection team to oversee and verify the halal slaughtering process in Brazilian facilities
2. Import live animals to be slaughtered locally within Libya under proper religious supervision

“These recommendations aim to protect consumers from unknowingly consuming meat that fails to meet Islamic standards,” the Grand Mufti stated. He has urged relevant authorities to implement the necessary measures promptly to ensure only properly certified halal meat reaches Libyan consumers.

The issue comes at a sensitive time as Libya’s imports from Brazil have been increasing in early 2025, with ongoing discussions about reopening the Brazilian embassy in Libya and expanding bilateral trade relations.

Original Articles:

libyaobserver.ly. (n.d.). Concerns raised over halal meat certification in Brazil: Libyan clerics urge stricter oversight. Retrieved April 24, 2025, from https://libyaobserver.ly/news/concerns-raised-over-halal-meat-certification-brazil-libyan-clerics-urge-stricter-oversight