Is Halal certification mandatory for food exports from India to Doha?

Yes, Halal certification is mandatory for all food products of animal origin exported from India to Doha, Qatar. This is a strict regulatory requirement enforced by Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Any food shipment — particularly meat, poultry, dairy, and processed foods — that arrives without proper Halal documentation will be held at Qatar General Customs and may be returned or destroyed.

For import from India to Doha, the Halal certification must be issued by an SFDA-recognized or Qatar-approved Halal certification body in India. At 3Hatz India Pvt. Ltd., we supply food products with complete Halal certification from recognized Indian bodies, along with the required Veterinary Health Certificate and MOPH import permit for meat and poultry shipments.

For non-animal food products like basmati rice, spices, packaged snacks, and edible oils, Halal certification is strongly preferred in the Doha market — even if not legally mandatory — as major Doha supermarket chains and hospitality buyers require it for shelf placement.

Beyond Halal, food exports to Doha also need to comply with Arabic labeling regulations (all product labels must have Arabic text), pass Qatar Central Food Laboratories (QCFL) testing, and adhere to Qatar Conformity (QS Mark) requirements for regulated product categories.

Our trade team at 3Hatz manages all compliance documentation for Indian food exporters entering Doha — from Halal and MOPH approval to QS registration and Arabic labeling — ensuring zero customs holds at Hamad Port.

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