Halal Montreal Certification Authority (HMCA)

The Halal Montreal Certification Authority (HMCA) is a Canadian halal certification body headquartered in Brossard, Quebec, in the greater Montreal area. Founded in 2008 as a family business in Longueuil, with industry roots the organization traces back to 1998, HMCA describes itself as one of the oldest halal certifiers in Canada. In 2018 it entered a partnership with ISA and positions itself as ISA’s Canadian counterpart. The team is fully bilingual, offering services and documentation in both English and French, and maintains audit teams across Canada.

HMCA certifies a broad range of sectors, including food and beverage manufacturers, meat processors, ingredient suppliers, cosmetics and personal care brands, pharmaceutical and health products, dietary supplements, and restaurants and institutional kitchens. Its certification process runs through ten steps: an initial inquiry, an application with pricing overview, submission of ingredient statements and production flowcharts, a formal service agreement, a full review of raw materials and ingredients including release agents used on processing lines, an on-site facility audit by an HMCA quality assurance auditor, and finally certificate issuance with authorization to use the HMCA halal logo on packaging. Certificates run through the end of the current calendar year, and HMCA continues monitoring compliance after issuance.

The organization states that it is recognised and accredited by leading international halal bodies, listing MUIS in Singapore, BPJPH in Indonesia, CICOT in Thailand, and the World Halal Food Council among its affiliations. HMCA reports that its certification is accepted in Canada, the United States, Southeast Asia, the Gulf States, Africa, Europe, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, and South America.