Saudi Halal Center Auditors in Kazan: The Halal Standards Committee of the Muslim Spiritual Directorate of the Republic of Tatarstan Passed an Inspection Following Accreditation in Saudi Arabia

On June 17, a delegation of auditors from the Saudi Halal Center arrived in Kazan to conduct an inspection of the Halal Standards Committee of the Muslim Spiritual Directorate of the Republic of Tatarstan for compliance with the GSO 2055-2 standard, which regulates the activities of halal certification bodies.

As a reminder, the Saudi Halal Center is a subordinate organization of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). The organization is responsible for certifying halal products in accordance with Islamic standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The inspection was a logical continuation of the process following the Saudi Halal Center’s accreditation by the Committee in April 2026. Now, Saudi specialists have assessed the organization’s work in practice. The main objective of the inspection is to ensure that the accredited body meets high standards in its daily operations.

The audit itself included two components: a witness audit and an office review. During the first stage, delegates from Saudi Arabia observed the audit process at the organizations’ sites and observed the audit process conducted by the staff of the Halal Standards Committee of the Muslim Spiritual Directorate of the Republic of Tatarstan. During the office review, a sample of auditors were interviewed and Sharia questions were asked to confirm their thorough knowledge of Islamic halal standards. They also examined the quality management system and its effectiveness, audit procedures, facility control methods, document management and reporting, certification files, personnel competency assessments, and other aspects related to quality assurance.

At the end, the results of the audit were announced: the Halal Standards Committee of the Muslim Spiritual Directorate of the Republic of Tatarstan successfully completed the audit, confirming its professionalism and high level of qualification and expertise.

Obtaining recognition from Saudi Arabia was the culmination of a lengthy and multi-stage process. To enter the Kingdom’s market, the Committee had to pass a three-tier approval system stipulated by local legislation. This was described in detail in this article. The auditors’ current visit is related to the mandatory inspection control required by GSO 2055-2.

Saudi Arabia is known for its strict regulation of the halal market. The SFDA oversees all halal imports entering the country and has a high level of selection: GAC accreditation confirms the authority’s competence at the Gulf level, SASO verifies documentation and the presence of a guarantor, and only then does the Saudi Halal Center issue final accreditation, entitling it to certify products for the Saudi market. For Russian manufacturers, this market is another promising export vector for their goods.

Press Service of the Halal Standards Committee of the Muslim Spiritual Administration of the Republic of Tatarstan