Aidar Gazizov: Halal Industry is actively developing in Russia 12.09.2025 16:30The annual turnover of halal products in Russia has already exceeded one billion rubles, with domestic demand growing by 2-3% annually, according to Aidar Gazizov, Director General of the International Halal Standardization and Certification Center under the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation. In an interview with RIA Novosti, he discussed which products can be considered halal, what they have in common with a healthy lifestyle, which countries Russia exports domestic halal products to, and how "moon" hotels differ from "star" hotels. Interview by Sergo Kukhianidze.
"Aidar, let's first clarify the term. I don't think everyone in Russia knows what the word "halal" actually means."
"Halal" is an Arabic word that translates as "permitted" or "allowed" in Islam. In contrast, "haram" is something prohibited. The concept of "halal" is broad, encompassing all areas of a Muslim's life, such as food, cosmetics, medicine, tourism, and finance.
– So, clothes can also be halal?
"Yes, maybe clothing, shoes, and even mattresses and pillows. We even have a well-known certified manufacturer."
- Very curious.
– Regarding food products, only those produced and processed strictly in accordance with halal standards, without the use of any prohibited ingredients, such as pork, blood, alcohol, and so on, are considered halal. Meat products are considered halal provided that the animal used in their preparation was slaughtered according to certain rules, and the animal itself must also be permitted for human consumption.
– Are there any requirements for the specialist who performs slaughter?
Yes, of course. Slaughter must be performed by a practicing Muslim who has undergone the appropriate training and possesses professional skills. Using swift movements, they cut the jugular arteries, esophagus, and trachea, sparing the spine, so that the blood drains from the animal or bird while the heart is still beating. Only after the animal or bird is dead is it permitted to be processed. Incidentally, large enterprises engaged in mass production have no problem producing halal products. Although "halal" is a religious concept, the basis of such slaughter is nothing other than the humane treatment of animals. An important goal during slaughter is to minimize stress for the animal.
- Well, it’s not exactly halal, but a healthy lifestyle – ZHOZH!
"You're absolutely right. And many are beginning to understand this today. It's no surprise that halal products have long been consumed not only by Muslims but also by members of other faiths, who choose them for their high quality. A wide selection of products can be found in many Moscow stores and in the halal sections of chain supermarkets."
– With such popularity, is there a temptation to produce counterfeit products?
Yes, unfortunately, the growing popularity of halal products has led to an increase in counterfeit goods. I admit, this has become a real problem in Russia. Typically, unscrupulous manufacturers, in an attempt to attract consumers, give their products names like "Eastern," "Caucasian," or "Tatar," and add Muslim symbols to the label. However, these products are produced without the supervision of a halal certification body and are, at a minimum, classified as "questionable," unsuitable for human consumption. For this reason, lawsuits are not uncommon. To minimize the number of such cases, we carefully monitor what is released under the halal label. We have expert inspectors at meat and poultry processing plants who ensure that the products produced comply with halal standards. There are many subtleties involved. For example, a meat grinder used to grind haram meat is no longer suitable for preparing halal products. Contamination between halal and haram products is unacceptable. To meet these requirements, not only are separate tools and equipment required, but the halal production itself must be located in a separate workshop.
– Was there a concept of a halal industry in Soviet times?
"No, there weren't, but the products themselves were. In Soviet times, grocery stores didn't have halal sections, of course, but in rural areas with dense Muslim populations, halal products were always available; that's where they came from for practicing Muslims living in the cities. Such products could also be found in the meat departments of markets, which also had Muslim populations."
Yes, there was no concept, but despite all the trials that believers—not only Muslims but also adherents of other religions—had to endure, our ancestors managed to carry these concepts of "halal" and "haram" through the centuries. And even they, I think, couldn't have imagined that this would later develop into an entire industry.
– What was the beginning of the industry?
Following numerous appeals from Muslims to the Russian Muftis Council, its chairman, Ravil hazrat Gainutdin, appealed to President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for support in this matter. As a result, a meeting was held with representatives of the presidential administration, the Russian Muftis Council, several ministries, and representatives of research institutes. In 2003, experts from our center and scholars from the Russian Muftis Council developed the first halal standard in Russia and the post-Soviet space.
Today, our country is setting a good example, with representatives of various nationalities and religions working together to develop the industry. Muslim organizations are doing their part, government agencies are doing theirs, and businesses are producing halal products in accordance with the standards of the Spiritual Administrations of Muslims and international standards. This collaborative work helps us successfully achieve our goals.
– So, what is the halal industry?
The halal industry in today's reality is a broad spectrum of business, encompassing all aspects of Muslim life and beyond. A small example is tourism. We see that among foreign visitors, a large number come from Arab-Muslim countries, and naturally, the presence of halal-certified cafes, restaurants, and hotels makes our country more attractive for them and contributes to the development of the national tourism industry.
– Hotels? Are there already so-called "dry hotels" in Russia, like in some Muslim countries, for example, where alcohol is banned?
There's no such thing as a "dry hotel" in Russia. There are hotels that operate according to halal standards. Our certification body, Rosstandart, has registered a separate voluntary certification system, "Halal Tourism Standard." While the generally recognized classification system indicates a hotel's "star rating," ours measures a hotel's "moon rating," indicating the various levels of halal services provided to our guests at a given hotel.
Every year, our Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation alone hosts dozens of events attended by imams, cultural figures, and business leaders. And they all need to be properly welcomed, including comfortable recreational facilities, halal food, and so on. Many guests from Arab Muslim countries are currently traveling to Russia for high-quality medical treatment. We must also create the necessary conditions for them. Our certified partners include medical centers.
In short, the halal industry is rapidly developing. According to Rosstandart, the annual turnover of halal products in Russia has already exceeded one billion rubles, with domestic demand growing by 2-3% annually.
– What about exports? Does Russia export its halal products?
Yes, of course. Over the past six years, Russian halal product exports have increased by 38%. Last year alone, Russia exported $380 million worth of halal products, an 82% increase over the 2023 target. We consider 2014, when our center underwent its first audit by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources of the United Arab Emirates, to be the beginning of our planned export of domestic halal products. Currently, in addition to the UAE, we are accredited in all Gulf countries, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Morocco, and South Africa. We are working to obtain accreditation in Indonesia, Algeria, and other countries, ensuring that Russian exporters can freely supply their halal products worldwide.
Islam is practiced by approximately 25% of the planet's population, or approximately two billion people. The global halal market for goods and services is currently estimated at two trillion dollars. And our country has enormous potential in this industry.
https://ria.ru/20250912/gazizov-2041382726.html
Based on materials from RIA Novosti
