An official statement has been released: Does Köfteci Yusuf have a halal certificate?

The list of hazardous products recently shared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry continues to be a hot topic in Turkey due to the presence of pork in the products of Köfteci Yusuf. The company owner stated that many technical errors were made during the sampling process and claimed that no pork was used in the company's products. While the repercussions of the pork scandal continue, it was claimed that the company holds a 'Halal Certificate.' The Halal Accreditation Agency made significant statements regarding the business.

In a written statement made by HAK, the following was stated:

"HAK does not directly issue halal certificates for products or services. HAK, based on the authority granted to it by laws, audits local and foreign halal certification bodies that carry out certification, in light of the objective criteria set forth in relevant legislation and international standards, and accredits and authorizes them if they succeed.

"DOES NOT HAVE ANY CERTIFICATE"

At the time the Ministry conducted sampling and analysis, the business did not have any certificate issued by HAK accreditation. The relevant business has a halal certificate issued by a local certification body for various products manufactured only at the main production center, with the issuance date being August 15, 2024, in accordance with legislation and international standards. Additionally, the halal certificate issued by the relevant organization in August only covers "minced meat, prepared meat and meat mixtures, bone broth, and soup" produced in limited quantities at the business's main production base.

"DEFENSE REQUESTED"

The presence of genetically modified organisms subject to the List of Foods Endangering Health has emerged in the service of two private restaurants that bring these products from the center and prepare them for consumption. Therefore, the restaurants where the business provides food services are outside the halal certificate issued by HAK accreditation. In light of all these developments, HAK has requested an official defense from the organization that issued the certificate to fully verify that there were no omissions, etc., during the process, and has also initiated an on-site inspection process for the same organization.

"HAK WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR AND CONTROL"

HAK will continue to meticulously evaluate the accreditation applications it receives from local and foreign conformity assessment bodies in accordance with the rules and principles set forth in international standards in this field. HAK will also continue to monitor and control the certification bodies it has accredited at regular intervals, based on both routine monitoring plans and the risk situation that may arise from feedback received from the market and the performance of the organizations."