DGFT Extends i-CAS-Halal Transition Period for Meat Exports to Egypt

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Dated: 10.11.2026

DGFT Extends i-CAS-Halal Transition Period for Meat Exports to Egypt

The Government of India has announced a three-month extension to the transition period for implementing mandatory Halal certification requirements for specified meat and meat products exported to Egypt. The change is intended to give Egyptian Halal certification bodies additional time to complete their onboarding and accreditation under the India Conity Assessment Scheme (i-CAS)-Halal.

Issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the notification amends the earlier export-certification framework established under Notification No. 59/2025-26 dated 9 February 2026, which was subsequently amended on 5 August 2026.

What has changed

For exports to Egypt, the mandatory i-CAS-Halal requirement will now take effect 12 months from 9 February 2026, rather than after the previously prescribed nine-month period.

The amendment specifically substitutes the Egypt-related provision in the earlier notification to allow a 12-month implementation window. All other provisions of the original notification remain unchanged.

Why the extension was granted

The extension is designed to support system readiness and enable the completion of onboarding and accreditation processes for Egyptian Halal certification bodies under i-CAS-Halal.

This additional period recognizes that the certification ecosystem must be operational before the mandatory requirement is fully implemented. It is intended to help ensure that exporters and relevant certification bodies can transition to the revised process without unnecessary disruption to India-Egypt trade in covered meat products.

Implications for exporters

Indian exporters of the specified meat and meat products to Egypt receive an additional three months before the mandatory i-CAS-Halal certification requirement comes into force.

During the extended transition period, businesses should align their export documentation and certification arrangements with the i-CAS-Halal framework. The extension does not remove the underlying certification requirement; it changes only the implementation timeline for Egypt.

Key points for exporters include:

Extended deadline: The transition period increases from 9 months to 12 months from 9 February 2026.
Country-specific amendment: The revised timeline applies to exports of specified meat and meat products to Egypt.
Purpose: The additional time supports onboarding and accreditation of Egyptian Halal certification bodies.
No broader changes: Requirements in the earlier notification continue to apply unless specifically amended by this notification.

Regulatory basis

The notification has been issued under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992, together with relevant provisions of the Foreign Trade Policy 2023. It reflects the Government of India’s effort to streamline Halal certification arrangements while maintaining an orderly transition for export stakeholders.

Conclusion

By extending the i-CAS-Halal transition period to 12 months, India has provided additional time for Egyptian certification bodies to become fully integrated into the required conformity-assessment process. Exporters should treat the extension as a transition measure and prepare for mandatory compliance once the revised implementation period ends.

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Source: DGFT

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