Le terme halal ne fait pas uniquement référence à la nourriture conforme à la loi islamique, il s'agit d'une philosophie dont découlent des produits et services qui jouent un rôle de plus en plus important dans l'économie. Halal signifie licite et fait référence aux actions et aux choses qui sont en accord avec l'Islam, le terme opposé est haram, qui signifie illicite. Le concept de halal influence l'ensemble du mode de vie des Musulmans, ce qui inclut le régime alimentaire, les vêtements, le travail, les loisirs et même la vie amoureuse. Il existe cependant différentes interprétations des notions de halal et haram en fonction des courants de pensée islamiques. Près de 2 milliards de personnes à travers le monde sont Musulmanes, il s'agit d'un des groupes de population dont la croissance est la plus rapide.

The term "halal” doesn’t just refer to foods that conform to Muslim law. The word stands for an entire philosophy, and halal products and services are playing an increasingly important role in the economy.

Halal means "permitted” and refers to actions and things that are in accordance with Islam. The opposite of halal is haram, meaning "forbidden.” The concept of halal influences Muslims’ entire lifestyle, including diet, clothing, work, leisure, and even love lives. Different schools of Islamic law mean there are also different interpretations of halal and haram.

Nearly two billion of the world’s population are Muslim, one of the fastest growing social groups. That amounts to a lot of potential in the marketplace - something that is already being widely exploited in countries like France and England. Halal products are becoming increasingly important in Germany, too. The flip side of this growth is what the Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls a "Wild West” situation, as competitors vie for market share in a fiercely competitive halal certification market. And often, the term "halal” is simply used as a marketing tool.