Saudi Arabia introduces Halal Mark Track to integrate ESG standards
Project aims to enhance market confidence in Saudi halal products both locally and internationally.
SAUDI ARABIA – The Saudi Halal Center, part of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, has introduced the Halal Mark Track system to align halal certification with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards.
The program is implemented in partnership with the Halal Product Development Company, owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, and THIQAH, aiming to create a more reliable and sustainable halal ecosystem.
The Halal Mark Track integrates approved halal standards with ESG requirements, allowing products to meet religious and sustainability criteria under the supervision of the Saudi Halal Center.
By combining halal compliance with ESG measures, the initiative seeks to boost consumer trust in Saudi products and strengthen their competitiveness in regional and global markets.
The partnership between Halal Product Development Company and THIQAH focuses on developing a structured ecosystem to assess products and services, providing businesses with a recognized quality standard.
Firms obtaining the certification can expand their operations locally and internationally while adhering to globally aligned quality and sustainability benchmarks.
Officials describe the Halal Mark Track as a strategic effort to enhance operational efficiency in the halal sector and provide market opportunities for local and foreign companies.
Modernizing Livestock Management
The certification launch follows a July 2025 report that Saudi Arabia is piloting a digital livestock management system using facial recognition technology to monitor small ruminants’ health and productivity.
The Saudi Smart Flock system, introduced under the Sustainable Rural Agricultural Development Programme (Saudi Reef), was implemented on six pilot farms last year to modernize small-scale animal farming.
The system identifies animals through facial features, tracks performance, monitors health, and consolidates farm records into a single digital platform suitable for traditional and intensive livestock farms.
Farmers using the system receive real-time data on herd performance and health, which aims to reduce losses and improve livestock quality over time.
Saudi Reef’s goal is to raise incomes for small-scale farmers and boost national food production through technology-driven livestock management.
The livestock sector remains central to rural economies, with millions of sheep, goats, and camels raised across the Kingdom, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
GASTAT data indicates around 22 million sheep, 7.4 million goats, and 2.2 million camels, with most sheep being female and the majority of camels aged four years or older.
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