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Halal Bill Reaches California

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The "golden state" became the latest to pass the Halal Food Bill, AB 1828 in the California State Legislature. Both the Assembly and the Senate passed the bill without opposition. The bill is designed to protect Muslim consumers from Halal food fraud.

"The passage of the Halal Food Bill reflects the growing needs of the Muslim community and provides an example of the importance of our community's participation in the political process," said Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director of the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA). CAIR-CA worked with Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-71) to draft and introduce the bill.

The new law aims to curb consumer fraud among food producers and sellers claiming to have halal foods. The legislation requires butchers and businesses to disclose that they are indeed providing halal food to their customers. The term "halal" means that which Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) have allowed to be done in a lawful manner. Products that are halal are those slaughtered and prepared in accordance with Islamic dietary laws.

Similar bills were passed in the states of New Jersey, Illinois, and Minnesota. New Jersey became the first state to pass the Halal Bill, giving New Jersey's estimated 400,000 Muslims more than just trust to go on when faced with questionable halal signs in the windows of grocery stores, butcher shops, and restaurants.

The push for Halal certification has been gaining wide support and includes an inspection of the production facility, review of sanitation, ingredients and labels, and training of company personnel in understanding and meeting halal requirements. Though federal meat inspection laws do not require the labeling of religious dietary products, those that are misrepresented as "halal" are considered misbranded under federal law.

The legislation for the California Halal Bill is currently on Governor Gray Davis' desk for a signature to make it into law. CAIR-CA has encouraged its members to contact Governor Gray Davis' office and offer support to the signing of AB 1828.

"Like every group in America, our participation is the key to have our issues addressed," said Ayloush.

The legislation was co-authored by Assemblywoman Aroner (D-14), Assemblywoman Bates (R-73), Assemblywoman Daucher (R-72), Assemblyman Harman (R-67), Assemblywoman Leach (R-15), Assamblyman Maddox (R-68), Assemblyman Robert Pacheco (R-60), and Senator Dick Ackerman (R-33) with strong support from Assemblyman John Campbell (R-70) and Assemblyman Longville (D-62). Dr. Ahmad Sakr and Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) provided technical and scholarly support.