GSO 2055-3:2021
مواصفة  قياسية خليجية
منتجات الحلال – الجزء الثالث: االشتراطات  العامة لجهات 
اعتماد جهات اصدار شهادات الحلال
Gulf Standard
Halal products –– Part three: General Requirements 
for halal accreditation bodies accrediting halal 
certification bodies
ICS: 67.050
English Language – اللغةاإلنجليزية Edition 1 – 12/05/2022 – 1 الطبعة
© GCC Standardization Organization , www.gso.org.sa
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إعـادة إنتـاج أي جـزء مـن هـذا المنشــور أو اســــتخدامه بـأي شــكل آخـر أو بـأي وســـيلة،  إلكترونيــــة أو ميكانيكيـــــة، بمـا فـي ذلك 
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هيئة التقييس لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربيـة  هيئة إقليميـة تضم في عضـويتها  أجهـزة  التقييـــس 
الوطنية  في الدول األعضاء  ، ومن  مهام الهيئة إعداد المواصفات  القياسية واللوائح  الفنية الخليجية بواسطة  
لجان فنية متخصصة.
قـرر المجلــس الفنـي لهيئـة التقييــس لـدول مجلـس التعــاون لـدول الخليــج العربيــة  في االجتمـــاع  الـ )52 (بتاريــــخ 
1443/10/10هــ ،الموافــــــق 2022/05/12م اعتمـــــاد تحــــــديث ترجمـــــة  المواصـــــــفة  القياســــــــية الخليجيــــــــة رقـــم 
GSO 2055-3:2021 وعنوانها  "منتجات  الحلال – الجزء الثالث: االشتراطات  العامة لجهات اعتمـاد جهـات 
اصـدار شـهادات الحـلال " إلى اللغـة االنجليزيــة  التي تم دراسـتها  ضـمن برنامـج  عمـل اللجنــة الفنيــة الخليجيـــة 
للمواصفات  الغذائية والزراعية  )TC05 (المدرجة  في خطة المملكة العربية  السـعودية  . ويعتبر  النـص العربـي  
هو المرجـع  األسـاس  في حـال وجـود  اختــلاف بين النصــين. علـى أن تلغـي وتحـل  محـل المواصــفة  القياســية رقــم 
GSO 2055-3:2015 . 
Foreword
GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) is a regional organization which consists of the 
national standardization bodies of GCC member states. One of GSO main functions is to issue 
gulf standards and technical regulations through specialized technical committees.
GSO Technical Council in its meeting number (52) held on 10/10/1443H, which corresponds 
to 12/05/2022, has approved the update of the translation of Gulf Standard GSO 2055-3:2021 
titled "Halal products –– Part three: General Requirements for halal accreditation bodies 
accrediting halal certification bodies" in English language which was studied through the 
technical program of GSO Technical Committee for Food and Agricultural Products (TC05) in 
SAUDI ARABIA schedule . (Arabic) text is considered the official text in case of any conflicts 
between the two. This document will cancel and replace the Gulf Standard GSO 
2055-3:2015. 
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Halal products –  Part 3: General Requirements for halal accreditation 
bodies accrediting halal certification bodies 
 
1. Scope  
 This standard is concerned with the requirements that must be provided in the accreditation bodies that evaluates and accredits the halal certification bodies.  
                   Note: in the context of this standard,   the activities that covered by accreditation, for 
example, test, calibration, inspection, halal certification, people, products, 
operations and services, provide proficiency test, produce source material, 
verification and validation.  
2. Complementary Referen ces 
2.1  GSO 993: Animal Slaughtering Requirements According to Islamic Rules. 
2.2  GSO 2055- 2: Halal products –Part two: General requirements for the halal 
certification bodies.  
2.3  GSO 9:  Labeling of prepackaged food stuffs.  
2.4  GSO ISO  9000: Quality management systems -  Fundamentals and V ocabulary. 
2.5 ISO 9001: Quality management systems – Requirements .  
2.6 GSO ISO IEC 17000: Conformity Assessment -  Vocabulary And General 
Principles.  
2.7 GSO ISO  IEC 17011: Conformity Assessment -  General Requirements For 
Accreditation Bodies Accrediting Conformity  
                   Assessment Bodies. 
2.8              ISO IEC 17026: Conformity assessment -  Example of a certification scheme for 
tangible products . 
2.9 ISO IEC 17025: Testing and Calibration Laboratories. 
2.10 ISO IEC 17020: Conformity assessment — Requirements for the operation of various types of bodies performing inspection.  
2.11           ISO IEC 17021- 1: Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies pr oviding 
audit and certification of management systems — Part 1: Requirements.  
2.12           ISO  19011: Guidelines for auditing management systems. 
2.13           ISO IEC 17065: Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying 
products, processes  and services.  
2.14           GSO 2055- 1: Halal Food - Part 1 : General Requirements.  
3. Definitions  
3.1 For the purposes of this standard the definitions and terms included in the standard in Clause 2.5 and 2.6 of the complementary references, in addition to the definitions listed below: 
3.2 Islamic rules  
 What ALLAH legislates for Muslims which derive its rules from the Holy Quran 
and the honorable Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him), practices (Sunnah)  
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3.3 Halal accreditation body  
                  The official body that grants accreditation for halal certification bodies. 
3.4 Accreditation body logo  
 Logo used by the accreditation body to identify itself. 
3.5 Halal accreditation certificate  
      Official document or set of documents, stating the accreditation for the specified 
scope therein.  
3.6 Halal Islamic affairs  expert : 
 A Muslim with profound and comprehensive knowledge of Islamic rules in the 
subject of Halal and approved and authorized by the relevant organization (the Halal competent authority) and appointed by the Halal certification body.       
4. General requirements of halal accreditation body 
4.1 Legal responsibility  
 All requirements given in clause 4.1 of ISO / IEC 17011: 2017 shall apply. In 
addition, accreditation bodies and their employees shall  adhere to the rules of 
Islamic rules  while carrying out their duties, and to act with the highest  
responsibility, integrity and impartiality when applying the requirements related to                    
Islamic rules.  
                  The accreditation body that is a member of the International  Halal                  
Accreditation Forum  (IHAF) that meets the requirements of this standard is 
considered as an accrediting body in the field of halal ac creditation.  
4.2 Accreditation agreement  
                  Accreditation agreement shall meet al l the requirements mentioned in clause 4.2 of 
the standard ISO/IEC 17011:2017. 
4.3 Use of accreditation badges and other certification items  
             All requirements mentioned in clause 4.3 of the standard  ISO/IEC 17011:2017 shall 
apply. 
4.4 Impartiality  requirements  
                  All the requirements given in clause 4.4 of ISO/IEC 17011:2017 and  the following 
shall apply:  
4.4.1          In addition to what is stated in clause 4.4 of  ISO/IEC 17011:2017, the accreditation 
body shall  ensure that all related  procedures and  policies, related to the maintenance 
of neutrality reviewed by Islamic affairs  experts  (at least one), According to the                  
halal rules of Islamic law, and in a way that guarantees the integrity and impartiality of the accreditation body procedures.  
4.4.2         The accreditation authority  shall  audit  and analyze any realistic or potential risks 
that may arise as a result of the existence of obstacles when applying the halal  
requirements of Islamic rules , and implement appropriate procedures and practices 
and present solutions in a manner that may solve the issue impartially.  
4.4.3          Religious reference regarding halal requirements in Islamic rules  To ensure that the 
halal requirements of Islamic rules  are met optimally a ccreditation body shall  rely 
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on official religious authorities to receive ad vice and guidance in making decisions                  
related to religious issues.  
4.5 Financial resources and financing  
                  All requirements given  in clause 4. 5 of ISO/IEC 17011:2017 shall apply.  In 
addition, halal accreditation body shall  ensure that their activities or the parties 
associated with it do not conflicts or opposes the interests of Muslims , and the 
provisions of halal in Islamic rules  and international laws and regulations in                 
general, eespecially  with regard to the transparency of its activities  and financial 
actions.  
4.6 Establish accreditation systems        
                  All requirements given in clause 4. 6 of ISO/IEC 17011:2017 and the following shall 
apply:   
4.6.1          The Halal Accreditation body shall  establish a separate and special                 
certification system for accrediting the Halal Certification body, So that the 
structural and methodological elements of this system inspire  neutrality, trust, 
responsibility and integrity, and that this system is managed in a way that ensures that Muslims  have access to halal services and products .
 
4.6.2         To protect neutrality and integrity, the halal accreditation Authority shall  establish 
a framework for the effective implementation of halal requirements in Islamic rules  
in all its activities for the benefit of Muslims around the world.  
5 Structural requirements:  
                All requirements given  in clause 5  of ISO/IEC 17011:2017 shall  apply, in addition, 
the Halal accreditation body shall  identify the top management responsible for:  
a) Compliance with approved halal standard specifications and / or the requirements 
of Halal certification body.  
b) The Halal accreditation body shall have the necessary expertise in the requirements of Halal in Islamic rules  to provide advice on matters directl y related to the 
accreditation of the Halal certificate.  
                Note: The necessary expertise can be obtained through experts in Islamic affairs or technical experts in the field of halal requirements in Islamic rules . 
6 .
           Resource requirements  
 All requirements given  in clause 6 of  ISO/IEC 17011:2017 and the  following shall 
apply:  
6.1 All employees of the accreditation body shall  abide Islamic rules while             
carrying out their duties and work related to Halal  accreditation activities , and 
signing a commitment document to comply with laws specified by the Halal accreditation body taking into consideration the aspects concerning privacy and  
non-violation of Islamic rules , as well as with regard to conflict of interest 
requirements, any past or current engagements with Halal certification bodies shall be evaluated . 
6.2         Accreditation body shall  have a sufficient number of employees, including  
assessment team leader s, auditors , Halal technical experts, and Islamic affairs 
experts to cover all its activities  . 
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6.3         Employees ( basic employees, external consultants, temporary or permanent, full -
time or part- time) shall  gain the appropriate education, training, technical  
knowledge, skills and experience which  necessary to  deal with the type, extent and 
volume of work and activities required to be performed.  
6.4         Halal accreditation body shall ensure that all employees directly involved in 
activities related to aspects of Islamic rules (Halal technical experts and Islamic affairs experts) are Muslims qualified and ab ide Islamic rules.  
6.5         Auditor  team members shall be  qualified and trained on Halal standard and have 
sufficient experience in food safety  .
 
6.6         Halal accreditation body shall  keep the documents of auditors  and experts up- to-
date, including their training on standards and Islamic provisions . 
6.7        Accreditation body shall  ensure that Islamic affairs  experts  have scientific 
knowledge equivalent to at least a Bachelor's degree in the field of Islamic rules  and 
they have knowledge  of procedures that audited .  
6.8        Accreditation body shall  ensure that Islamic affairs  experts  have at least  four years 
of work experience in the field of accreditation or Halal certification  . 
6.9       The accreditation body shall  ensure that halal technical experts have scientific 
knowledge equivalent to at least a Bachelor's degree and they have knowledge of procedures that audited .
 
6.10      Accreditation body shall  ensure that the Halal technical experts  have at least four 
years of work experience in the field of  accreditation or granting halal certificates.  
7          Process es requirements  
            All requirements given in clause 7 of ISO / IEC 17011: 2017 and  the following shall 
apply:  
7.1       Accreditation body shall  take all necessary steps of conformity assessment  with 
standard related to H alal product and other requirements such as sampling, 
inspection and testing in accordance to Halal certification system.  
7.2       While applying accreditation procedures, the requirements related to the            
efficient and reliable of entity or entities and the person or people  conducting the 
checking, testing, calibration, inspection and people, products, processes  and 
services  and providing proficiency test ing and production of reference materials, 
verification and validation shall be taken into consideration as  defined in ISO / IEC 
17021- 1. 
7.3        In case of subcontracting to provide specific services for  evaluation processes, the 
accreditation body shall  ensure that the subcontracted entity complies with its 
requirements, and Halal requirements mentioned in the approved standard .  
7.4        The ev aluation team shall  include Halal technical expert and  Islamic affairs expert.  
7.5    In addition to what stated in clause 7.7 of ISO / IEC 17011: 2017, decisions related to   granting, confirming, suspending and withdrawing accreditation, reducing and 
expanding the scope of accreditation shall  be issued by a qualified person or group 
of Muslims  to take decisions  related to the granting of accreditation to H alal 
certificates  body.  
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7.6        The accreditation period starts from the date of the decision  of grant ing 
accreditation or re -evaluation, and it shall  not exceed five years.  
8 .         Information requirements  
             All requirements mentioned in clause 8 of ISO / IEC 17011: 2017 shall apply.  
9 .        Management s ystem requirements  
            All requirements mentioned in Clause 9 of ISO / IEC 17011: 2017 shall apply. 
 
    
 
 
  
 
  
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Appendix A  
(Normative)  
Table (1) provides a summary of knowledge and skills of accreditation body assessment 
teams and accreditation body personnel, however,  they are informative because they only 
identify areas of knowledge for specific accreditation activities.  
Table (1) Knowl edge and skills  
 Accreditation activities (Ref. ISO/IEC 17011:2017)  
Knowledge and 
skills  Accreditation 
Programs 
Department  Review 
evaluation 
reports and 
make 
accreditation 
decisions  Evaluation  Document 
review  Application 
review 
including 
selection of 
team 
members  
Knowledge of 
accreditation 
rules and 
accreditation 
processes  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  
Knowledge of 
evaluation 
principles, 
practices and 
techniques   X 
(6.1.2.2)  X 
(6.1.2.2)  X 
(6.1.2.2)   
Knowledge of 
the principles 
and tools of a 
public 
administration 
system   X 
(6.1.2.2)  X 
(6.1.2.2)  X 
(6.1.2.2)   
Communication 
skills 
appropriate for 
all levels within 
the conformity 
assessment 
body    X 
(6.1.2.6)    
Note -taking 
and report 
writing skills    X 
(6.1.2.6)  X 
(6.1.2.7)   
Opening and 
closing skills    X 
(6.1.2.6)    
Interviewing 
skills    X 
(6.1.2.6)    
Assessment 
management 
skills    X 
(6.1.2.6)    
Knowledge of 
accreditation X 
(6.1.2.3)  X (6.1.2.3)  
(6.1.2.8)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  
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and 
accreditation 
scheme 
requirements, 
relevant 
guidance and 
application 
documents  
Knowledge of 
the conformity 
assessment 
scheme 
requirements 
and other 
procedures and 
methods used 
by the 
conformity 
assessment 
body  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  X 
(6.1.2.3)  
Knowledge of 
the principles 
risk-based 
assessment  X 
(6.1.2.4)  X 
(6.1.2.4)  X 
(6.1.2.4)    
Knowledge of 
the practices 
and operations 
of the 
conformity assessment 
environment 
work    X 
(6.1.2.6)    
Knowledge of 
general 
regulatory 
requirements 
related to 
conformity assessment 
activities  X 
(6.1.2.5)  X 
(6.1.2.5)  X 
(6.1.2.5)  X 
(6.1.2.5)   
Note 1: a group of people participating in the specific accreditation activity can provide the required knowledge 
and skills.  
Note 2: Note 2: Accreditation scheme requirements include ISO / IEC 17020, ISO / IEC 17021- 1, ISO / IEC 
17025, ISO / IEC 17024, ISO 17034, ISO / IEC 17043, ISO / IEC 17065, ISO 15189 and ISO 14065.  
Note 3: Requirements for Conformity Assessment Scheme include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 9096, WADA 
ISL and Energy STAR.  
 
 
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