SANHA

The South African National Halaal Authority (SANHA) is a South African non-profit organisation and one of the primary bodies responsible for halal certification in South Africa. Established in 1996, SANHA represents various Islamic theological bodies and professional organisations. It aims to standardise halal auditing and provide consumers with assurance regarding the religious permissibility of food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods.^[1]

SANHA operates through a national inspectorate that monitors over 1,400 establishments, including restaurants, abattoirs, and multinational food producers such as McCain, Parmalat, and Flavourcraft.^[2] The organisation provides two main certification schemes: a Local Certification Scheme (LCS) for the South African market and a Global Certification Scheme (GCS) for exporters, particularly those targeting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.^[3]

Since its inception, SANHA has been involved in several high-profile industry matters:

• Orion Cold Storage Legal Action: In 2011, SANHA was a lead party in exposing the alleged mislabelling of non-halal meat by Orion Cold Storage. The organisation secured an interim interdict against the company, a case that led to a national debate on halal food security and consumer protection in South Africa.^[4]
• World Halal Council: SANHA is a founding member of the World Halal Council (WHC). In October 2024, the organisation hosted the WHC Silver Jubilee General Assembly and International Halaal Conference in Durban, marking 25 years of the global body.^[5]
• International Accreditations: SANHA was the first African halal body to receive accreditation from the GCC Accreditation Centre (GAC) and the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC). In 2024, it secured accreditation from Indonesia's BPJPH, becoming the first accredited certifier in Africa for that region.^[6]

The organisation and its certified partners have received several industry accolades:

• Finalist in the "Community Corporate Social Investment" category at the sixth Islamic Finance Business Awards.^[7]
• Platinum, Gold, and Silver awards for SANHA-certified plants at the 20th Logistic Achiever Awards.^[8]
• Recipient of the Global Halal Leadership Award in 2025.

SANHA is an official member of the Proudly South African campaign, confirming its compliance with local content requirements, quality standards, and fair labour practices.^[9] It maintains collaborative ties with the South African Chamber of Baking and the Minara Chamber of Commerce to facilitate trade for halal-certified businesses.^[10]

• SANHA Official Website

SANHA operates through a national inspectorate that monitors over 1,400 establishments, including restaurants, abattoirs, and multinational food producers such as McCain, Parmalat, and Flavourcraft.^[1] The organisation provides two main certification schemes: a Local Certification Scheme (LCS) for the South African market and a Global Certification Scheme (GCS) for exporters, particularly those targeting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.^[2]

Since its inception, SANHA has been involved in several high-profile industry matters:

• Orion Cold Storage Legal Action: In 2011, SANHA was a lead party in exposing the alleged mislabeling of non-halal meat by Orion Cold Storage. The organisation secured an interim interdict against the company, a case that led to a national debate on halal food security and consumer protection in South Africa.^[3]
• World Halal Council: SANHA is a founding member of the World Halal Council (WHC). In October 2024, the organisation hosted the WHC Silver Jubilee General Assembly and International Halaal Conference in Durban, marking 25 years of the global body.^[4]
• International Accreditations: SANHA was the first African halal body to receive accreditation from the GCC Accreditation Centre (GAC) and the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC). In 2024, it secured accreditation from Indonesia's BPJPH, becoming the first accredited certifier in Africa for that region.^[5]

The organisation and its certified partners have received several industry accolades:

• Finalist in the "Community Corporate Social Investment" category at the sixth Islamic Finance Business Awards.^[6]
• Platinum, Gold, and Silver awards for SANHA-certified plants at the 20th Logistic Achiever Awards.^[7]
• Recipient of the Global Halal Leadership Award in 2025.

SANHA is an official member of the Proudly South African campaign, confirming its compliance with local content requirements, quality standards, and fair labor practices.^[8] It maintains collaborative ties with the South African Chamber of Baking and the Minara Chamber of Commerce to facilitate trade for halal-certified businesses.^[9]

• SANHA Official Website