World Halal Authority (WHA)

World Halal Authority (WHA) is an international halal certification body based in Milan, Italy. It certifies the conformity of systems, processes, services, and products with international halal requirements across a broad set of sectors, including agrifood, cosmetics and personal hygiene, pharmaceuticals and chemistry, health and assistance, catering and hotel services, mobility and logistics, and financial and insurance services. The body positions its work for both Islamic majority markets and worldwide trade, supporting Italian and international exporters.

Turkey’s Halal Accreditation Agency (HAK) accredited WHA for halal product certification against the OIC/SMIIC 2:2019 standard, following evaluations and on site assessments carried out throughout 2023, with the accreditation announced in April 2024. WHA also reports accreditation from GAC covering the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and from ESMA in the United Arab Emirates, where halal certification has been required for relevant imports.

Its recognitions include JAKIM in Malaysia, MUI in Indonesia since May 2017, MUIS in Singapore, CICOT in Thailand, MFDS in South Korea, and the Pakistan Ministry of Commerce and Textile, alongside mutual recognition arrangements with Brunei Halal Food, GIMDES in Turkey since January 2018, and the Philippine halal authorities. According to the body, it is the only halal certification body in Italy recognized by MUI and GIMDES, and the only one in Italy that is a member of the World Council of Halal Food (WHFC). It also lists membership in IHAB and Malaysia’s Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC).

Certification proceeds in four phases, starting with a contractual phase and preparatory questionnaire, followed by a documentation audit, an on site audit by two auditors, and certificate issuance.