What does the HMC stamp on meat mean?

What does the stamp look like?

A purple or red ink stamp on the carcass carrying the HMC mark, applied to lamb, mutton, goat and beef. Poultry is not stamped individually; HMC chicken is identified by sealed, labelled packaging from the certified plant. On a whole lamb you will usually see the stamp on the shoulder or leg.

Where would I see it at a butcher?

In the chiller or on the block. A butcher who breaks down whole lambs, as we do at Ikhlas, will have stamped carcasses hanging. Ask to see them; an HMC-certified butcher will not mind. Pre-cut meat in trays will not carry the stamp, which is why the certificate and the register matter too.

Can the stamp be faked?

A stamp alone is not proof, which is why HMC certification is for the whole shop, not individual cuts. The check that cannot be faked is the HMC register at halalhmc.org, which lists every certified outlet. Use the stamp as confirmation, the register as proof.

Does every cut at Ikhlas come from a stamped carcass?

Yes. All red meat at Ikhlas Halal Butcher comes in as HMC-stamped carcasses or from HMC-certified cutting plants, and all chicken arrives in HMC-labelled packaging. Our shop at 26-28 City Road, Bradford is on the HMC register.

More on halal and HMC

• What is HMC?
• HMC vs HFA: what is the difference?
• Is stunned meat halal?
• Is machine-slaughtered chicken halal?
• Does a halal sign mean the meat is halal?
• What is the tasmiyah and why does it matter?
• Where can I buy HMC halal meat in Bradford?
• Our HMC approval
• Halal meat, explained: farm to counter