The World Halal Food Council (WHFC) was born from a conceptual idea of an institute for the assessment and research of food, drugs, and cosmetics. Today there are many HALAL organizations in the world, and the Indonesian Council of Ulama (LPPOM MUI) wanted to bring these organizations together so they could get to know each other and work together.
At a gathering at the Hilton Hotel in 1999, the Indonesian Council of Ulama LPPOM MUI established the World Halal Food Council (WHFC) and chose Professor HJ. Aisjah Girindra as the first president, while appointing Dr. Mohamed Sadek from the US as vice president, Mr. Ali Chawk from Australia as secretary-general, and A. Al Chaman from the Netherlands as financial manager. The task of the WHFC is to standardize Halal standards for the slaughtering, food-processing, and flavor industries.
Over the years, the name of the World Halal Food Council changed - ultimately the word "Food" was removed, and a new name appeared: the World Halal Council. In 2007, Dr. Ir. H.M. Nadratuzzaman Hosen succeeded Professor HJ. Aisjah Girindra as president and served until 2009; then in 2010, Dr. Lukmanul Hakim, M.Si was elected as the new chairman of the World Halal Council.
On June 23, 2011, more than 21 certification bodies worldwide held a two-day meeting at the Bidakara Hotel in Jakarta, and after lengthy deliberation, re-adopted the original vision, goals, and the 1999 organization name.
The attending representatives unanimously agreed:
a. To re-use the name World Halal Food Council (WHFC)
b. To elect Dr. Lukmanul Hakim, M.Si, a director of the Indonesian Council of Ulama (LPPOM MUI), as the new president of the WHFC.
c. To register in Indonesia.
d. To establish a permanent headquarters in Jakarta.
e. The WHFC also reaffirmed that the purpose of the organization is to safeguard the realization of Halal regulations, maintain the unity of the organization, and achieve an independent global standard.