Important statement regarding lamb meat bearing codes IE363 and IE367
Statement regarding lamb meat bearing codes IE363 and IE367 sold in mainstream Irish supermarkets
On June 10th, 2025, the Department of Halal Certification Europe (DHCE), based in Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, issued a statement claiming that lamb meat bearing the plant codes IE363 and IE367—and sold in mainstream supermarkets across the Republic of Ireland—is halal.
Following this announcement, the Islamic Foundation of Ireland (IFI) received a significant number of inquiries from members of the Muslim community expressing concern and seeking clarification. The central question posed was both straightforward and vital: “Is the meat produced by these two factories and sold in Irish supermarkets genuinely halal?”
As a long-standing religious body that has served as a Halal certifying authority in Ireland since the early 1980s, the IFI felt a duty to investigate this matter thoroughly and provide the community with accurate, evidence-based information. While some may feel the process has taken time, we believe that issuing a responsible and informed statement is far more important than rushing to judgment. To that end, we contacted both meat factories referenced in the DHCE statement, requesting clarification on their awareness of the DHCE’s claim and whether they could provide verifiable evidence to support it. Despite sending two formal letters—via email and post—we received no response from either company.
Given the seriousness of DHCE’s claim, the IFI conducted further inquiries with two reliable sources familiar with operations at the plants in question. Both sources confirmed that there is no continuous presence of independent Muslim supervisors at these facilities—a key requirement for halal certification.
A credible Halal certification process demands that qualified, independent Halal supervisors—appointed by the certifying body—be present throughout all stages of production: from slaughter to deboning, storage, and packaging.
The mere employment of Muslim slaughtermen by the company does not suffice. Without consistent oversight, the integrity of Halal production cannot be guaranteed.
This principle is upheld by all reputable halal certification bodies worldwide and is reinforced by guidelines set by international Halal authorities and accreditation bodies. While we cannot elaborate on all technical details in this statement, the absence of continuous independent supervision alone is sufficient grounds for concern.
Based on our investigation, the Islamic Foundation of Ireland concludes that the lamb meat referenced in the DHCE statement cannot be certified or approved as Halal. Accordingly, members of the Muslim community are advised NOT to consume this meat.
Finally, we wish to add that the original statement issued by DHCE has now been removed from their website. It appears the statement may have sparked broader controversy, including opposition from individuals outside the Muslim community regarding the sale of halal meat in Irish supermarkets.
The Islamic Foundation of Ireland.
26/09/2025.
Download this statement in full.