What the public record establishes
Halal certification depends on competent people, Islamic authority, a halal-specific audit, an impartial decision, and records that connect the final certificate to the work performed. The Halal Conformity Center (HCC) operates as a U.S.-based Halal certification body with an office in Brooklyn, New York. It shares its address, personnel, and verification infrastructure with V-Cert Inc., a clean-label certification company [1] [2].
HCC claims to have been founded in 2011 and to have certified over 500 manufacturers across 28 countries [3]. The organization maintains a public certificate registry at verify.halalcc.org [4]. However, HCC explicitly states that it does not hold national accreditations itself, instead relying on direct cooperation agreements with a network of partner bodies for international recognition [5].
Entity and accreditation boundary
The assessed entity is Halal Conformity Center (HCC) and its affiliated certification operations based at 2352 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY.
HCC is not accredited by a recognized Tier A accreditation authority. It holds observer membership in the World Halal Food Council (WHFC) and is recognized by the Muslim Professionals Japan Association (MPJA) [6] [7]. Because HCC lacks independent Tier A accreditation, it receives zero accreditation-derived control or operational assurance, and all scores rely on direct evidence.
Halal Industry Exposé · Comprehensive Accountability Assessment
Halal Conformity Center (HCC) and its affiliated certification operations based at 2352 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. Organizational accountability: 42% · Grade F · Insufficiently substantiated
Moderate confidence. Halal Conformity Center receives 42%, Grade F. The organization operates a functional public certificate registry and documents its certification process, but lacks Tier A accreditation and does not publicly identify its accountable leadership or technical personnel.
This comprehensive organizational accountability assessment combines the standardized score with the documented business-practice investigation. Flags explain evidence already scored inside the eleven fixed metrics and create no separate bonus or penalty points. The article does not rule that every certificate is invalid, prove that an undisclosed control does not exist, or infer anyone's religion or intent.
Halal Certification Body Accountability Assessment version 2.4. Source cutoff September 13, 2026. Last reviewed September 13, 2026. Raw score 41.6950 out of 100, ordinarily rounded to 42%.
Trust overview
Green flags and red flags
These flags explain evidence already scored inside the eleven fixed metrics. They do not create separate bonus or penalty points.
Green flags
Public Certificate Registry
HCC maintains an excellent, open-access certificate verification portal (verify.halalcc.org), allowing buyers to instantly verify certificate scope and status without an account.
Metrics: #9
Score treatment: Supports control and operational assurance.
Boundary: Portal provides verification but does not establish underlying controls.
Sources: [4]
Documented Process
HCC publishes detailed, clear policies on its certification process, Shariah compliance, and impartiality structure.
Metrics: #6, #7, #8
Score treatment: Supports control assurance.
Boundary: Policies document processes but do not identify the individuals executing them.
Red flags
Hidden Personnel
HCC does not publish the names of its technical committee, auditors, and impartiality oversight personnel, making it impossible for the public to verify their competence or conflicts of interest.
Metrics: #3, #4, #5
Score treatment: Limits public transparency scores.
Boundary: Hidden personnel is a finding of unverified identity, not an allegation of fictitious identity.
Sources: [9]
No Tier A Accreditation
HCC does not hold independent Tier A accreditation, relying instead on network recognition, which provides zero independent operational assurance of its internal controls.
Metrics: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11
Score treatment: Provides zero accreditation-derived control or operational assurance.
Boundary: Network recognition does not replace Tier A accreditation.
Opaque Ownership
The exact legal entity, ownership structure, and corporate relationship with V-Cert Inc. are not publicly disclosed.
Metrics: #1, #2
Score treatment: Limits public transparency scores.
Boundary: Missing ownership evidence is not proof of invalidity.
Accreditation examined
None · None. None. Unverified. Accredited None; expiry None.
Scope: HCC is not accredited by a recognized Tier A accreditation authority. It holds observer membership in the World Halal Food Council (WHFC) and is recognized by the Muslim Professionals Japan Association (MPJA). Because HCC lacks independent Tier A accreditation, it receives zero accreditation-derived control or operational assurance, and all scores rely on direct evidence.
Third-party independence: No independent Tier A accreditation.
Status factor 0 percent; scope factor 0 percent; independence factor 0 percent; accreditation assurance factor 0 percent.
How USDHS grades organizational accountability
Each metric is 60 percent control assurance, 25 percent operational evidence, and 15 percent public evidence. Government records and other authoritative public sources count even when the certifier does not reproduce them on its own website. A recognized accreditation of the exact entity and scope can support the control layer and part of operational evidence; it never creates public-evidence credit or transfers across entities without the required bridge. Classification bands: A, 90 to 100, strongly substantiated; B, 80 to 89, substantiated; C, 70 to 79, partially substantiated; D, 60 to 69, material gaps; F, 0 to 59, insufficiently substantiated.
Part 2
Numbered assessment metrics
1. Legal identity and operating status
Legal entity, jurisdiction, operating identity, formation, status, address, and required registrations.
46.25% of this metric; 2.77 of 6 weighted points. partially verified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 1.80 points. HCC actively issues certificates and operates a public verification portal. However, 'Halal Conformity Center' is not clearly registered as a distinct corporate entity in New York public records, suggesting it may operate as a brand or program under V-Cert Inc., which shares the same address and personnel.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 0.75 points. HCC actively issues certificates and operates a public verification portal.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 25 percent evidence factor; 0.23 points. HCC operates at 2352 Coney Island Ave, Brooklyn, NY, the exact same address as V-Cert Inc. However, 'Halal Conformity Center' is not clearly registered as a distinct corporate entity in New York public records, suggesting it may operate as a brand or program under V-Cert Inc.
Metric conclusion: HCC actively issues certificates and operates a public verification portal. However, 'Halal Conformity Center' is not clearly registered as a distinct corporate entity in New York public records, suggesting it may operate as a brand or program under V-Cert Inc., which shares the same address and personnel.
2. Ownership and control
Beneficial owners, percentages, controlling persons, governance rights, related parties, and conflicts.
21.25% of this metric; 2.13 of 10 weighted points. unverified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 25 percent evidence factor; 1.50 points. The operational control appears integrated with V-Cert Inc. HCC's website does not disclose its ownership structure, beneficial owners, or legal control percentages.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 25 percent evidence factor; 0.63 points. The operational control appears integrated with V-Cert Inc.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 0 percent evidence factor; 0.00 points. HCC's website does not disclose its ownership structure, beneficial owners, or legal control percentages.
Metric conclusion: The operational control appears integrated with V-Cert Inc. HCC's website does not disclose its ownership structure, beneficial owners, or legal control percentages.
3. Governance and accountable leadership
Named leadership, governing bodies, organizational structure, management responsibility, and accountable contacts.
27.50% of this metric; 3.85 of 14 weighted points. unverified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 25 percent evidence factor; 2.10 points. HCC publishes an organizational chart outlining its Executive Leadership, Shariah Board, and Technical Committee. However, HCC explicitly states on its website that it 'does not publish individual names,' meaning accountable leadership is not publicly verified.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 1.75 points. HCC publishes an organizational chart outlining its Executive Leadership, Shariah Board, and Technical Committee.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 0 percent evidence factor; 0.00 points. HCC explicitly states on its website that it 'does not publish individual names,' meaning accountable leadership is not publicly verified.
Metric conclusion: HCC publishes an organizational chart outlining its Executive Leadership, Shariah Board, and Technical Committee. However, HCC explicitly states on its website that it 'does not publish individual names,' meaning accountable leadership is not publicly verified.
4. Personnel competence and authorization
Auditor, reviewer, technical-expert, and contractor qualifications, training, authorization, monitoring, and assignments.
21.25% of this metric; 3.83 of 18 weighted points. unverified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 25 percent evidence factor; 2.70 points. HCC claims to use multidisciplinary teams including food technologists and trained halal auditors. Because HCC 'does not publish individual names,' the identity, qualifications, and competence of its auditors and technical reviewers cannot be independently verified.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 25 percent evidence factor; 1.13 points. HCC claims to use multidisciplinary teams including food technologists and trained halal auditors.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 0 percent evidence factor; 0.00 points. Because HCC 'does not publish individual names,' the identity, qualifications, and competence of its auditors and technical reviewers cannot be independently verified.
Metric conclusion: HCC claims to use multidisciplinary teams including food technologists and trained halal auditors. Because HCC 'does not publish individual names,' the identity, qualifications, and competence of its auditors and technical reviewers cannot be independently verified.
5. Islamic authority and halal decision
Qualified Islamic-affairs personnel, governing authority, jurisprudential basis, review roles, and final halal decisions.
46.25% of this metric; 8.32 of 18 weighted points. partially verified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 5.40 points. HCC maintains a Shariah Board to rule on permissibility. External records identify Mufti Abdul Sattar Madani as the Head of the Shariah Board, but HCC's official website does not publish the names of its Islamic authorities.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 2.25 points. External records identify Mufti Abdul Sattar Madani as the Head of the Shariah Board.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 25 percent evidence factor; 0.68 points. HCC's official website does not publish the names of its Islamic authorities.
Metric conclusion: HCC maintains a Shariah Board to rule on permissibility. External records identify Mufti Abdul Sattar Madani as the Head of the Shariah Board, but HCC's official website does not publish the names of its Islamic authorities.
6. Halal audit method and facility verification
Application, scope review, documents, on-site work, ingredients, processes, findings, corrections, reports, surveillance, and recertification.
50.00% of this metric; 7.00 of 14 weighted points. partially verified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 4.20 points. HCC publishes a detailed six-stage certification process (Apply, Scoping, Audit, Review, Issuance, Re-audit) and outlines its audit methodology and scheme requirements.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 1.75 points. HCC publishes a detailed six-stage certification process and outlines its audit methodology and scheme requirements.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 1.05 points. HCC publishes a detailed six-stage certification process and outlines its audit methodology and scheme requirements.
Metric conclusion: HCC publishes a detailed six-stage certification process (Apply, Scoping, Audit, Review, Issuance, Re-audit) and outlines its audit methodology and scheme requirements.
7. Impartiality and decision separation
Conflicts, consultancy separation, impartiality oversight, and separation among audit, review, and certification decisions.
62.00% of this metric; 4.96 of 8 weighted points. partially verified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 70 percent evidence factor; 3.36 points. HCC's governance structure separates the auditor, technical reviewer, Shariah reviewer, and final decision-maker. The impartiality policy is published, though the individuals enforcing it are unnamed.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 1.00 points. The impartiality policy is published, though the individuals enforcing it are unnamed.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 0.60 points. The impartiality policy is published, though the individuals enforcing it are unnamed.
Metric conclusion: HCC's governance structure separates the auditor, technical reviewer, Shariah reviewer, and final decision-maker. The impartiality policy is published, though the individuals enforcing it are unnamed.
8. Standards, scheme, and certification scope
Governing standards, sectors, locations, exclusions, religious positions, certificate scope, and scheme boundaries.
72.00% of this metric; 2.88 of 4 weighted points. verified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 70 percent evidence factor; 1.68 points. HCC outlines specific schemes for food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemicals. Scheme scopes and industry coverage are clearly published.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 75 percent evidence factor; 0.75 points. Scheme scopes and industry coverage are clearly published.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 75 percent evidence factor; 0.45 points. Scheme scopes and industry coverage are clearly published.
Metric conclusion: HCC outlines specific schemes for food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and chemicals. Scheme scopes and industry coverage are clearly published.
9. Certificate traceability and mark control
Current certificate verification, identifiers, holders, sites, products, dates, status changes, and mark misuse controls.
91.00% of this metric; 3.64 of 4 weighted points. verified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 85 percent evidence factor; 2.04 points. HCC operates a live, functional public certificate verification portal (verify.halalcc.org) where anyone can check the status and scope of a certificate using its ID.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 100 percent evidence factor; 1.00 points. Anyone can check the status and scope of a certificate using its ID on verify.halalcc.org.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 100 percent evidence factor; 0.60 points. Anyone can check the status and scope of a certificate using its ID on verify.halalcc.org.
Metric conclusion: HCC operates a live, functional public certificate verification portal (verify.halalcc.org) where anyone can check the status and scope of a certificate using its ID.
10. Complaints, appeals, and corrections
Complaint and appeal routes, timing, independent review, records, corrections, escalation, and non-retaliation.
65.75% of this metric; 1.31 of 2 weighted points. partially verified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 70 percent evidence factor; 0.84 points. HCC publishes a defined appeals and complaints process, and the policy and contact methods are publicly available.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 0.25 points. The policy and contact methods are publicly available.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 75 percent evidence factor; 0.23 points. The policy and contact methods are publicly available.
Metric conclusion: HCC publishes a defined appeals and complaints process, and the policy and contact methods are publicly available.
11. Operating history and demonstrated capacity
Corroborated timeline, current activity, clients, sectors, personnel resources, and workload matched to competent capacity.
50.00% of this metric; 1.00 of 2 weighted points. partially verified.
Accreditation effect: No Tier A accreditation.
- A. Control assurance, 60 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 0.60 points. While HCC claims to have been founded in 2011, its tight integration with V-Cert Inc. (launched in 2026) suggests recent restructuring. Current certification activity is verifiable.
- B. Operational evidence, 25 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 0.25 points. Current certification activity is verifiable.
- C. Public evidence, 15 percent
- 50 percent evidence factor; 0.15 points. Current certification activity is verifiable.
Metric conclusion: While HCC claims to have been founded in 2011, its tight integration with V-Cert Inc. (launched in 2026) suggests recent restructuring. Current certification activity is verifiable.
Part 3
Conclusion
Strongest findings
- HCC maintains an excellent, open-access certificate verification portal (verify.halalcc.org), allowing buyers to instantly verify certificate scope and status without an account.
- HCC publishes detailed, clear policies on its certification process, Shariah compliance, and impartiality structure.
Material gaps
- HCC does not publish the names of its technical committee, auditors, and impartiality oversight personnel, making it impossible for the public to verify their competence or conflicts of interest.
- HCC does not hold independent Tier A accreditation, relying instead on network recognition, which provides zero independent operational assurance of its internal controls.
- The exact legal entity, ownership structure, and corporate relationship with V-Cert Inc. are not publicly disclosed.
Unresolved questions
- Who are the authorized personnel making final halal decisions, and what is the exact legal entity structure of HCC?
Score interpretation
- Raw score: 41.6950. The displayed score uses ordinary rounding.
Material records are rescored under the same rules, whether they raise or lower the result. Submit documentary evidence through the secure evidence and correction form.
Conclusion
Halal Conformity Center receives 42%, Grade F. The organization operates a functional public certificate registry and documents its certification process, but lacks Tier A accreditation and does not publicly identify its accountable leadership or technical personnel.
Corrections and responsive evidence
HCC may submit responsive evidence, including corporate registration documents, current exact-entity accreditation records where applicable, and the names and qualifications of its accountable personnel, through the [secure documentary-evidence form](/submit-evidence?article=halal-conformity-center-accountability-assessment). Material evidence will be reviewed and scored under the same methodology.
This assessment explains public evidence and organizational accountability. It does not replace the controlling HIPS standard, an accreditation or certification decision, a religious ruling, or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Halal Conformity Center receive 42%, Grade F?
Methodology 2.4 gives 64 percent of the score to accountable leadership, qualified personnel, Islamic authority, and halal-specific audit capability. HCC lacks Tier A accreditation and does not publish the names of its accountable leadership and technical personnel, resulting in low scores in these critical areas.
Is Halal Conformity Center currently accredited?
No. HCC is not accredited by a recognized Tier A accreditation authority. It relies on network recognition, which provides zero independent operational assurance of its internal controls.
Does a low score mean every certificate is invalid?
No. This assessment measures structural accountability, transparency, and verifiable credentials, not the religious validity of specific products.
Why are private documents not included?
The methodology relies on public records and publicly verifiable evidence, while allowing the organization to submit responsive controlled documents through the secure documentary-evidence form.
How can the certifier improve its score?
Scores can be improved by publishing full ownership details, exact personnel authorizations, and obtaining independent Tier A accreditation.
References
- V-Cert Inc., About V-Cert
- V-Cert Inc., Contact
- Halal Conformity Center, About HCC
- Halal Conformity Center, Certificate Verification Portal
- Halal Conformity Center, Partners & Recognition
- World Halal Food Council, Observing Members
- Muslim Professionals Japan Association, International Recognition
- Halal Conformity Center, Governance & Management
- Halal Conformity Center, Shariah Compliance Policy
- Facebook, HCC USA Page
- Halal Conformity Center, Certification Process