APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Supreme Islamic Council of Halal Meats in Australia (SICHMA) implements the Halal Certification Program with a view to ensuring that all food outlets in Australia certified as “halal” abide by the requirements of Halal standards.
SICHMA will be responsible for administering and implementing the Halal Certification Program as follows:
Trading Name of Business
The restaurant, takeaway business, canteen, etc seeking halal certification must apply in writing on a prescribed application form to SICHMA.
SICHMA must ensure that the applicant has provided correct trading name, ABN, address of business premises, contact address, names of owners, partners, directors and other relevant details.
Nature of Business
SICHMA will ensure that there is transparency regarding the application.
SICHMA will NOT certify any food product manufacturer that uses any porcine in any of their products.
Verification of Purchases
ICQ will verify all purchases by sighting invoices, delivery dockets, etc to ensure that all products and raw materials. Have been purchased from outlets that in turn have been certified as halal and that all other products bought and sold by the applicant meet the halal guidelines.
List of trading Partners
SICHMA will obtain from the applicant names of all its trading partners with whom it deals and/or obtains its products from.
Cross Contamination
Under no circumstances a mixture of halal and non-halal food such as pork, ham, bacon, etc. will be certified halal due to high risk of cross-contamination.
Preparation of Food
All ingredients such as raw materials, flavouring used in the preparation of halal product must be halal and free of alcohol.
Personnel and Staff
All personnel, staff and employees in the outlet engaged in the preparation must be made aware of the requirements of the Halal Certification Program and they must go through a training/induction program approved by SICHMA and the applicant.
Audit and Monitoring
The Audit Committee appointed by the SICHMA will be responsible for the initial audit and certification of the premises. Thereafter the Auditor appointed by SICHMA will carry out periodic and random audits to ensure that the outlet complies with the halal guidelines at all times.
Duties of the Auditor
The nominated auditor will ensure that:
· The trading name and the address are correct as stated in the application form;
· The staff and employees have been made aware and are fully conversant with the requirements of the Halal Certification Program;
· The preparation area comply with the halal certification guidelines;
· They audit the storage areas to ensure that they comply with the guidelines;
· All utensils and equipment used are free from any risk of cross contamination;
· They sight all invoices, delivery dockets, etc to verify that the products (especially raw products) have been purchased from halal sources;
· The approved halal certificate has been displayed in a prominent place visible to the customers. Wherever appropriate the halal sign, logo is being correctly used;
· They note any irregularity or breach of the guidelines and immediately bring that to the attention of the person in charge of the outlet; and
· They present a written report to the Halal Audit Committee of SICHMA
Halal Certificate
The Halal Certificate from SICHMA confirms that the food or any consumable item from that outlet is halal and permitted to be consumed by the Muslim community. The Halal Certificate will be issued subject to the following rules:
· The applicant has entered into a written agreement with SICHMA and agrees to abide by the rules/guidelines at all times;
· The business and staff/employees are fully conversant with the concept of the halal program;
· The halal certificate is valid only for the premises it has been issued and the original certificate must be displayed at a prominent place visible to the customers;
· The Halal Certificate is not transferable and must not be duplicated in any form whatsoever under any circumstance;
· The business agrees to allow the SICHMA auditor to enter the premises at any time, without prior notice, to carry out random audits;
· The owner of the outlet has paid the nominated fee for the issue of the Halal Certificate; and
· The Halal Certificate remains the property of SICHMA and must be returned to SICHMA upon its expiry.
Logos and Labels
Subject to the approval of SICHMA only the labels/logos of SICHMA are to be used for the products certified by it as halal. The labels/logos are not to be used if the certificate has expired or if it has been withdrawn.
Withdrawal of the Halal Certificate
SICHMA reserves the right to withdraw the Halal Certificate at any time if there is any breach of the conditions or guidelines, there is a change of ownership, the fee or any part thereof remains unpaid or at the expiry of the halal certificate.
Update
To ensure the success of the Halal Certification Program and for the mutual benefit of both parties, SICHMA shall provide ongoing updates to the applicants’ business on changes in the halal industry.
Supreme Islamic Council of Halal Meats in Australia (SICHMA) implements the Halal Certification Program with a view to ensuring that all food outlets in Australia certified as “halal” abide by the requirements of Halal standards.
SICHMA will be responsible for administering and implementing the Halal Certification Program as follows:
Trading Name of Business
The restaurant, takeaway business, canteen, etc seeking halal certification must apply in writing on a prescribed application form to SICHMA.
SICHMA must ensure that the applicant has provided correct trading name, ABN, address of business premises, contact address, names of owners, partners, directors and other relevant details.
Nature of Business
SICHMA will ensure that there is transparency regarding the application.
SICHMA will NOT certify any food product manufacturer that uses any porcine in any of their products.
Verification of Purchases
ICQ will verify all purchases by sighting invoices, delivery dockets, etc to ensure that all products and raw materials. Have been purchased from outlets that in turn have been certified as halal and that all other products bought and sold by the applicant meet the halal guidelines.
List of trading Partners
SICHMA will obtain from the applicant names of all its trading partners with whom it deals and/or obtains its products from.
Cross Contamination
Under no circumstances a mixture of halal and non-halal food such as pork, ham, bacon, etc. will be certified halal due to high risk of cross-contamination.
Preparation of Food
All ingredients such as raw materials, flavouring used in the preparation of halal product must be halal and free of alcohol.
Personnel and Staff
All personnel, staff and employees in the outlet engaged in the preparation must be made aware of the requirements of the Halal Certification Program and they must go through a training/induction program approved by SICHMA and the applicant.
Audit and Monitoring
The Audit Committee appointed by the SICHMA will be responsible for the initial audit and certification of the premises. Thereafter the Auditor appointed by SICHMA will carry out periodic and random audits to ensure that the outlet complies with the halal guidelines at all times.
Duties of the Auditor
The nominated auditor will ensure that:
· The trading name and the address are correct as stated in the application form;
· The staff and employees have been made aware and are fully conversant with the requirements of the Halal Certification Program;
· The preparation area comply with the halal certification guidelines;
· They audit the storage areas to ensure that they comply with the guidelines;
· All utensils and equipment used are free from any risk of cross contamination;
· They sight all invoices, delivery dockets, etc to verify that the products (especially raw products) have been purchased from halal sources;
· The approved halal certificate has been displayed in a prominent place visible to the customers. Wherever appropriate the halal sign, logo is being correctly used;
· They note any irregularity or breach of the guidelines and immediately bring that to the attention of the person in charge of the outlet; and
· They present a written report to the Halal Audit Committee of SICHMA
Halal Certificate
The Halal Certificate from SICHMA confirms that the food or any consumable item from that outlet is halal and permitted to be consumed by the Muslim community. The Halal Certificate will be issued subject to the following rules:
· The applicant has entered into a written agreement with SICHMA and agrees to abide by the rules/guidelines at all times;
· The business and staff/employees are fully conversant with the concept of the halal program;
· The halal certificate is valid only for the premises it has been issued and the original certificate must be displayed at a prominent place visible to the customers;
· The Halal Certificate is not transferable and must not be duplicated in any form whatsoever under any circumstance;
· The business agrees to allow the SICHMA auditor to enter the premises at any time, without prior notice, to carry out random audits;
· The owner of the outlet has paid the nominated fee for the issue of the Halal Certificate; and
· The Halal Certificate remains the property of SICHMA and must be returned to SICHMA upon its expiry.
Logos and Labels
Subject to the approval of SICHMA only the labels/logos of SICHMA are to be used for the products certified by it as halal. The labels/logos are not to be used if the certificate has expired or if it has been withdrawn.
Withdrawal of the Halal Certificate
SICHMA reserves the right to withdraw the Halal Certificate at any time if there is any breach of the conditions or guidelines, there is a change of ownership, the fee or any part thereof remains unpaid or at the expiry of the halal certificate.
Update
To ensure the success of the Halal Certification Program and for the mutual benefit of both parties, SICHMA shall provide ongoing updates to the applicants’ business on changes in the halal industry.
