Question Summary:
Will it be permissible for a Muslim to buy these HMC meat products from a non-Muslim?

Question Detail:

 
Here in the UK we have a Halal Monitoring company (HMC) that inspects the animals and the meat, from the time of being slaughtered till it reaches the consumer, the organisation has many ulema within and the procedure and criteria is stricktly monitored, they have a distinct logo and sign to inform the consumer that the animal was sacrificed according to Islamic conditions, however, some non muslim firms have started to sell these products that have the HMC label on them, wii it be permissible for a muslim to buy these HMC meat products from a non muslim. 
 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
In principle, a non-Muslim’s information on Halal and Haram is invalid. For example, if a non-Muslim says that this meat is halal, his information will not be accepted and a Muslim cannot consume such meat based on the information of a non-muslim. However, a non-Muslim’s information in dealings is acceptable. For example, if a non-muslim states that he bought this meat from a muslim, this information can be relied upon. The information is about a dealing and not about Halal and Haram.
If a non-muslim purchases halal meat from HMC for example, and sells it with the HMC label and packaging, in actual fact the non-muslim dealer is informing the consumer that the meat is from a Muslim. This is information on a dealing and not information regarding Halal and Haram. As stated above a non-Muslim’s information in dealings is valid.
However, a Muslim is duty bound to exercise precaution in issues of Halal and Haram. If there is any doubt in a non-Muslim misrepresenting the consumer in information regarding dealings which have a bearing on halal and haram, as in the case of obtaining and selling halal meat, a muslim must exercise caution and not accept information of a non-Muslim on face value. There have been instances where non-Muslims have misrepresented Muslims by packaging haram meat with halal logos due to commercial gains. Such instances have also been widely reported in the media.
It is therefore advisable that apart from the above referred principle of accepting information from non-Muslims in dealings, stringent measures be put on place to avoid abuse and misrepresentation.[1]
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saleem Khan
Student Darul Iftaa
Bradford, UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net