The announcement was made last week at a press conference, and came after a two-year struggle for the board to canvas and monitor all halal slaughter.
IHP managing director Simon Atkinson said: “We are very proud to be the first company of its kind, to be certified and monitored by Sharia Halal Board. We believe the time is right and the future now requires full monitoring of halal production.”
“To date there has been no real alternative for those abattoirs that believe in ethical and quality production. Abattoirs like IHP, which use pre-stun and hand slaughter techniques, had no company or board to turn to, even if we desired to be monitored.”
The board has a panel of five senior scholars and muftis (Muslim legal experts) from the UK, and Allama Qazi Abdul Aziz Chishti of the board stated: “This is a major step for the Sharia Halal Board. We hope there will be many more abattoirs like IHP, which want to ensure their customers of halal quality and production. Our mission is to provide 100% halal poultry and meat, with full traceability and assurance to the UK consumer.”
The abattoir will be working closely with the board in an attempt to ensure that the shops which sell their meat also become members, to prevent contamination.
Amjad Iqbal of IHP added: “We are very happy to be working with the Sharia Halal Board, which we have found to be the most vocal on the recent failures with halal meat in UK. They are extremely passionate about ensuring that Muslims in the UK receive guaranteed halal meat within the constraints of Sharia and a product of high quality.”
