American Halal Foundation (AHF)
American Halal Foundation (AHF) is a halal certification body in United States of America that holds recognition from JAKIM, Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development and the most influential authority in the global halal industry.
Source: JAKIM's official recognition list, gazetted under the Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, as at 30 January 2026.
| Country | United States of America |
|---|---|
| Address | 10335 Cross Creek Boulevard, Suite 2 Tampa FL 33647 USA |
| Contact person | Mr. Mohammad Mazhar Hussaini (President) |
| Telephone | +1 (630) 759-4981 |
| mmhussaini@halalfoundation.org | |
| Recognition | JAKIM (gazetted, as at 30 January 2026) |
| Certifies | food and beverages, meat and poultry, flavors, cosmetics and personal care, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, chemicals, packaging, food service, logistics |
| Standards | AHF Halal Certification Scheme (HCS-001), MS 1500:2019, MS 2424:2012, GSO 2055-1:2015, OIC/SMIIC 1:2019 |
| Accredited by | GCC Accreditation Center (GAC), Saudi Arabia, Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), United Arab Emirates |
| Also recognised by | BPJPH (Indonesia), CICOT (Thailand), IMANOR (Morocco), MoPH (Qatar), GIMDES (Turkey), MUIS (Islamic Religious Council of Singapore) |
| Memberships | World Halal Food Council (WHFC), Association of American Halal Certifiers (AAHC) |
| Website | halalfoundation.org |
Dual recognition: AHF is also listed on MUIS Singapore's Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies list, valid to 2029-03-03.
About AHF
The American Halal Foundation (AHF) is a halal certification body headquartered in Tampa, Florida, in the United States. Its founder, Mohammad Mazhar Hussaini, is credited by the organization with conducting one of the first formal halal audits in the United States in 1983, and AHF today positions itself as a certifier focused on manufacturers and their supply chains rather than retail outlets.
The certification portfolio is organized under the AHF Halal Certification Scheme (HCS-001), which spans meat and poultry, ingredients and processed foods, flavors, food service, pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals, cosmetics and personal care, chemicals, packaging, and logistics. The scheme references national and regional halal standards including Malaysia’s MS 1500 and MS 2424, the Gulf GSO 2055 series, Emirati HAS documents, OIC/SMIIC standards, and Indonesian SJPH requirements, and AHF describes its system as aligned with ISO/IEC 17065. Integrated audits allow clients to combine halal with gluten free, non GMO, vegan, and GMP assessments in one visit.
AHF is accredited by the GCC Accreditation Center in Saudi Arabia against GSO 2055-2:2021 and by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre in the UAE, and it holds recognitions from BPJPH in Indonesia, MUIS in Singapore, CICOT in Thailand, IMANOR in Morocco, Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health, and GIMDES in Turkey, alongside its Malaysian standing. The body is a member of the World Halal Food Council and the Association of American Halal Certifiers, and operates ten offices across North America, China, and India.
Frequently asked questions
Is AHF recognised by JAKIM?
Yes. American Halal Foundation (AHF) appears on JAKIM's official recognition list of international halal certification bodies, gazetted under Malaysia's Trade Descriptions (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011, as at 30 January 2026.
What does JAKIM recognition mean for AHF?
JAKIM (Department of Islamic Development Malaysia) is widely regarded as the industry's most influential halal authority. Its recognition means halal certificates issued by AHF are accepted for products entering Malaysia, and it serves as a strong third-party credibility signal in the global halal trade.
Where is AHF based?
American Halal Foundation (AHF) is based in United States of America at 10335 Cross Creek Boulevard, Suite 2 Tampa FL 33647 USA.
Is AHF recognised outside Malaysia?
Yes. Besides JAKIM, American Halal Foundation (AHF) appears on MUIS Singapore's Recognised Foreign Halal Certification Bodies list (valid to 2029-03-03), so its halal certificates are also accepted for the Singapore market. Recognition by two national authorities is a strong dual-market credibility signal for exporters.
Which export markets does an AHF halal certificate open?
AHF holds accreditations and recognitions covering Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Gulf states through GAC and EIAC, Qatar, Morocco, and Turkey, so a single AHF certificate can support exports across the major regulated halal markets.
Can AHF combine halal audits with other certifications?
Yes. AHF offers integrated audits that pair halal certification with gluten free, non GMO, vegan, and GMP assessments in a single audit visit, which reduces duplicate site inspections for manufacturers.
Does AHF certify companies outside the United States?
Yes. Alongside its Tampa headquarters and offices across North America, AHF lists offices in Montreal, Shanghai, and Tamil Nadu, and reports serving more than 200 companies in China.
Related halal certification bodies
- Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) · United States of America (USA)
- Islamic Services of America, Inc (ISA) · United States of America (USA)
- Islamic Centre of the Argentine Republic (Centro Islamico de la Republica Argentina) · Argentina
- The Halal Catering Argentina (THCA) · Argentina
Sectors AHF certifies
AHF's recognised scope covers these sectors. Compare every JAKIM-recognised body certifying the same category:
Learn about JAKIM recognition
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