What the oval mark is
Meat and other foods of animal origin sold in the UK carry an oval mark with a country code and an approval number. There are two kinds:
| Mark | What it shows | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Health mark | The slaughterhouse that killed the animal, applied after veterinary inspection | Carcasses and large cuts |
| Identification mark | The last approved plant that cut, packed or processed the meat | Supermarket packs, sausages, ready meals |
Since Brexit, products from Great Britain usually show GB with a number, such as GB 1234, or UK with a number. Northern Ireland products may show UK(NI). Older packs and products from the EU show UK or the EU country code followed by "EC" or "CE", for example IE 367 EC for an Irish plant.
How to look up a code
The Food Standards Agency publishes a list of every UK establishment approved to handle meat and other animal products, the approved premises dataset. Search it by approval number to find the plant's name and address. For EU codes, each country publishes its own list.
This tells you who handled the meat. It does not say how the animal was slaughtered.
Can a meat code tell you if meat is halal?
Not on its own. Approval numbers are about hygiene and food safety, not religious slaughter, and:
- many plants handle both halal and non-halal meat;
- an identification mark often shows a cutting or packing plant, not the slaughterhouse;
- halal status depends on the certifier, which the code does not show.
Lists online that claim a particular code is "halal" or "not halal" are not official, and a plant's halal status can change. Use a code as a starting point, then confirm with the certifier or the brand.
How to check if meat is halal
- Look for a halal logo from a named certifier on the pack. See halal logos explained.
- Use the code to find the plant, then search the certifier's list of approved plants or ask the certifier.
- Ask the retailer or brand which certifier approves the product.
- Buy from a certified butcher if you want certainty. See how to find a halal butcher you can trust.
Imported meat and EST numbers
Meat from New Zealand, Australia and the USA uses its own establishment numbers, often marked "EST". See EST number halal check.
Frequently asked questions
What does GB 1234 mean on meat?
It is the approval number of the plant in Great Britain that slaughtered, cut or packed the meat. You can look it up in the FSA's approved premises list.
Is GB 5416 halal?
An approval code identifies a plant, not whether its meat is halal. Look the code up to find the plant, then check with a halal certifier or the brand whether that product is certified.
What does IE 367 EC mean?
IE shows the plant is in Ireland, 367 is its approval number, and EC shows it is approved under EU rules. Irish authorities publish the list of approved plants.
Where can I find a list of UK slaughterhouse numbers?
The Food Standards Agency publishes the list of approved meat establishments in its approved premises dataset on data.food.gov.uk.
Does the oval mark mean meat is halal?
No. The oval mark shows the meat was handled in an approved, inspected plant. Halal status depends on certification, shown by a separate halal logo.