Source: European Parliament
Algeria has in principle a right to establish standards for products sold within its territory and to select the conformity assessment bodies (CABs) it deems appropriate.
This includes regulations on the use of specific labels related to compliance with religious requirements, such as Halal. However, Algeria must ensure that the selected CABs are able to conduct reliable assessments, avoid unnecessary delays and charge reasonable fees. In that regard, Algeria has decided to recognise only a single CAB within the EU (Grand Mosquée de Paris).
The Commission has received feedback that there are important certification delays and high fees. The Commission is actively discussing these issues with the Algerian authorities.
The Commission also remains in close contact with the Grand Mosquée de Paris, including through a recent meeting in December 2024, and has requested them to take concrete steps to minimise delays and reduce certification costs so as to ensure an efficient and cost-effective process for all EU businesses seeking to comply with Algeria’s Halal certification requirements.
The EU-Algeria Association Agreement[1] does not include provisions on certification of CABs. Conversely, Article 17(2) of the Agreement prohibits new quantitative restrictions on imports, or any measure having equivalent effect.
Should Algeria’s measures be found to constitute such restrictions, they would be in violation of the Agreement.
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/en/TXT/?uri=OJ:L:2005:265:TOC