Over the past two years, plant-based food consumption has grown by 49% across the EU, reaching a total sales volume of €3.6 billion.
Introduction to the French Halal Market
2025-05-15
France has the largest Muslim population in Western Europe, with approximately 5.5 million Muslims, representing over 8% of its total population of 66 million. French Muslims come from North Africa (43.2%), Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco (27.5% to 11.4%), Sub-Saharan Africa (9.3%), and Türkiye (8.6%).
In France, the halal market is worth €5.5 billion, of which €4.5 billion is in the halal food sector.
While retail sales of halal products in the country reached €80 million in 2009, this figure more than tripled to €170 million in 2013 and reached €280 million in 2019. However, this growth trend in the halal retail market is declining. The market grew by 20% in 2017, but only by 5% in 2019. Muslim consumers account for 75% of customers who prefer halal products, accounting for 0.3% of total retail sales.
Halal products account for an estimated 30% of total food imports. Exporters of meat and meat products include Ireland, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium. Dry food exporters include Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria.
According to a study by the French Institute for Public Research (IFOP), 59% of the Muslim population systematically consumes Halal meat, while 28% consume Halal meat as often as possible. Of those who regularly consume Halal meat (87% of the total participants), 86% claim to have a Halal sensitivity to prepared foods, 43% to broth slices, 29% to tomato sauce, 22% to soups, 24% to prepared foods, and 8% to baby fruit bowls. In the country, 14% of cattle slaughter and 22% of sheep slaughter meet both Halal and Kosher certification standards.
Halal certification activities
France does not have mandatory legislation regarding halal certification. Halal certificates are issued by approximately 50 organizations, including Paris, Lyon, and Évry. These certificates can be used for both the domestic and export markets. Even if there are no regulations regarding halal documentation for imported products, organizations in the exporting country can sign special agreements with Paris, Lyon, or Évry. Paris, Évry, and Lyon independently provide certification according to different standards.
The French Standards Association (Association Française de Normalization - AFNOR) published a non-mandatory standard for the certification of halal reaction and production processes on September 15, 2017. The standard provided by AFNOR is currently undergoing a monitoring process. The standard's status will be reviewed at the end of three years.
AFNOR, on the other hand, participates in the process by proposing a standard, on a voluntary basis.