India’s Mandatory Halal Certification 2026: New Country List & I-CAS Compliance Deadlines

Under Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Notification 59/2025–26, India has extended the I-CAS Halal certification requirement to 20 additional markets, bringing the total number of covered export destinations to 35 as of 2026. While compliance is now mandatory for most of these markets, exporters to Egypt have been granted a six-month transition period.

The central government has issued a new notification under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, and the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2023, updating export compliance requirements for specified meat and meat products.

Expansion of countries covered

On February 9, 2026, the central government expanded the list of export destinations where compliance with India’s halal certification framework is mandatory. The newly added countries include markets across Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, such as Egypt, Morocco, Kenya, Kazakhstan, and the Maldives, among others.

Prior to the amendment, Halal certification was mandatory only for exports to 15 specified countries. The list now includes an additional 20 countries, taking the total up to 35.

As per the notification issued on April 8, 2026, exporters supplying meat and meat products to these additional countries must now adhere to India’s prescribed halal certification standards before shipment.

Applicability of the I-CAS halal certification scheme

The requirement falls under the India Conformity Assessment Scheme (I-CAS) – Halal, which standardizes halal certification for exports. The scheme ensures that products meet importing countries’ religious and regulatory requirements while maintaining consistency in certification practices across India.

Implementation timeline

The notification introduces a phased implementation approach to allow exporters and certification bodies to adjust:

• For most newly added countries: Compliance will become mandatory after a transition period of two weeks from the date of notification, i.e., April 8, 2026. This means compliance becomes mandatory from approximately April 22, 2026.
• For Egypt: A longer transition period of six months has been provided to support system readiness and onboarding of certification bodies, making the effective compliance date around October 8, 2026.

What this means for exporters

Exporters of meat and meat products must now:

• Obtain certification under the I-CAS Halal framework for the newly listed markets
• Align documentation and processing standards with prescribed guidelines
• Ensure readiness within the specified transition timelines to avoid shipment delays or non-compliance

The notification strengthens India’s export regulatory framework by aligning certification processes with global halal requirements, while also expanding market access for compliant exporters.

India’s expanding engagement on halal meat exports

As per reports published on December 19, 2025, India’s Commerce and Industry Minister highlighted the central government’s proactive efforts to strengthen halal certification recognition across key export markets. The focus is on countries where halal compliance is mandatory for importing meat and meat products, particularly in the Gulf and other Islamic economies.

For several years, India has been working to transition from fragmented and informal halal certification practices toward a formal, government-backed system. This is to ensure that Indian meat exports meet internationally accepted halal standards, thereby improving credibility and consistency in global markets.

Role of India-Oman CEPA in export of halal-certified meat

A significant step in this direction is the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which includes provisions for:

1. Mutual recognition of halal certification systems, reducing the need for duplicate approvals
2. Acceptance of India’s organic certification under the National Program of Organic Production (NPOP) framework
3. Enhanced cooperation on standards and conformity assessment

This arrangement is expected to simplify compliance procedures and reduce certification costs for exporters.

Recognition of India’s halal certification, particularly in markets like Oman, is expected to:

1. Eliminate redundant testing and certification requirements.
2. Lower compliance costs
3. Improve speed and ease of market entry

These measures are likely to enhance the competitiveness of Indian meat exporters in regulated halal markets.

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