Research Centre for Genetically Engineered Non-Food and Food Products and the Inspection Association

GIMDES (Gida ve İhtiyaç Maddeleri Denetleme ve Sertifikasyon Araştırmaları Derneği — Association for the Inspection and Certification of Food and Supplies) is Turkey's most internationally recognised private halal certification organisation. Founded in 2005 in Istanbul, GIMDES has developed a reputation for rigorous religious compliance, applying strict interpretations of Islamic dietary law to its certification audits across food, beverages, food additives, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. GIMDES operates under the supervision of a religious advisory board (Dini Danışma Kurulu) composed of Islamic scholars, ensuring that its halal fatwas and certification decisions are grounded in classical jurisprudence. This religious oversight model — similar to that of JAKIM in Malaysia and MUI in Indonesia — gives GIMDES certificates a level of religious credibility that distinguishes it from purely commercial certification bodies. The organisation is recognised by JAKIM (Malaysia), making its certificates accepted across Southeast Asian markets, and maintains bilateral recognition with halal authorities in several OIC member states. GIMDES is affiliated with the World Halal Council (WHC), which further extends its certificate acceptance network across Muslim-majority markets in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. GIMDES is also a member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) working group network. For European and Central Asian manufacturers — particularly in Turkey's own substantial food export sector — GIMDES certification provides access to halal consumer markets in the Arab world, Southeast Asia, and the growing European Muslim population estimated at over 25 million consumers. Turkey is a major global food exporter, and GIMDES has certified hundreds of Turkish food manufacturers and multinationals operating within Turkey. GIMDES publishes a regularly updated prohibited ingredients (haram and mashbooh) list and provides halal awareness training. Its strict standards and transparent scholar oversight make it a preferred certifier for manufacturers who need to demonstrate the highest level of halal credibility.