Global mark of quality for halal food begins with Australia and New Zealand exports to UAE

Halal food products from Australia and New Zealand are the first imports to be subject to the UAE’s new standards, which aim to create a global mark of quality for the Islamic food industry.

The halal mark was unveiled by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation & Metrology (Esma) at Gulfood yesterday, following a three-year development process that is part of Dubai’s push to become the global capital of the Islamic economy.

The new halal certification covers the full process from farm to slaughter to additives and ingredients used, Esma said.

The standards are backed by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the 57-country body that aims to preserve Islamic social and economic values.

Within two years all food imports will need the mark to pass through the country, Esma said.

About a fifth of the global food trade is halal, according to Datamonitor, and it is forecast to be worth US$10 trillion by 2030, a Global Futures and Foresights study says.

Halal food imports into the GCC will reach $53.1 billion by 2020, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.

“More than 85 per cent of the food we import comes from non-Muslim countries,” said Dr Rashid bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, who is also chairman of Esma.

“We need new standards of transparency and security for halal customers. There will be no disruption to the food chain, it will be an incremental change with Australia and New Zealand the first countries to fall under the new standards.”

Dubai was the fifth-largest market for lamb and sheep exports from Australia in the second quarter of last year, according to Meat and Livestock Australia. Saudi Arabia was the fourth-biggest during the period. Much of 2015 demand is expected to come from the Middle East.

“We are privileged to be the first international exporters, along with New Zealand, to carry the new halal mark,” said David Beatty, regional manager for Meat & Livestock Australia.

“I think the UAE sees that we have solid and strong certification in place and the integrity of our food chain is fundamental to that. We do not know what the new certification will entail, but we have most appropriate systems in place already so I do not foresee any problems. The present certification system is not homogenous, so the halal mark may well benefit exporters, importers and consumers.”

The new standards will also help UAE-based exporters compete in international markets, companies said.

“The accreditation means we will not need certificates from different regions with differing levels of compliance,” said Ishaque Noor, group managing director at Albatha Consumer Group.

“It will give customers and consumers total confidence that the food they are buying, and the supply chain, is Sharia-compliant.

“No longer will countries need to question the authenticity of a halal product. If it carries the halal mark it meets the strictest conditions of Islamic process.”

Albatha’s Global Food Industries, which manufactures frozen food in Sharjah, is the first company to get the mark on its products. Esma did not disclose which countries would next be subject to the new standards for halal food imports. But in October, Dubai said it was in talks with Malaysia’s government over a deal to agree mutually acceptable halal standards.

Yesterday, Brazil’s meat export body said the introduction of the mark would not cause any disruption to trade.

“We have three different certification bodies in Brazil,” said Ricardo Joao Santin, vice president of the poultry division at the Brazilian Association of Animal Protein. “We exported 230,000 tonnes of meat to the UAE last year with no problems. We have the utmost respect for religion and its requirements.”

Source: http://www.thenational.ae/business/economy/global-mark-of-quality-for-halal-food-begins-with-australia-and-new-zealand-exports-to-uae

US firm extends invite to Islamic scholars in fake Gulf Halal Food case

A US-based food company accused of supplying beef to several Gulf countries that it falsely claimed was halal has extended an open invitation to Islamic scholars and official auditors in the Middle East to inspect its food process for Halal compliance.

Last month, it was reported that Midamar Corporation, based in Iowa, in Midwestern US, had been accused of supplying nearly $5 million worth of beef to Muslim customers in Malaysia, Kuwait and the UAE.

Directors of the company, named as brothers Jalel and Yahya 'Bill' Aossey, have been charged by US federal prosecutors with nearly 100 counts of conspiring to make and use false statements and documents, sell misbranded meat and commit mail and wire fraud.

The company issued a strong denial of the allegations on its website in December and has now issued the invitation in a bid to clear its name.

It said in a statement: "Recent news reports falsely claim that the company sold millions of dollars in meat to the GCC countries, which allegedly did not follow Halal practices.

"Company directors do not accept these allegations that have been made without fully considering the context and diversity of Halal market."

It added: It would be irrational, immoral, and counterproductive for a company like Midamar, which only produces Halal food for sale in the US and for export, to decide to produce and sell non Halal food to Halal consumers.

"This is an industry where companies must guard the Halal integrity of their brand, thereby earning the trust and confidence of Halal consumers. Midamar has been aware of this fact and has acted accordingly for 40 years."

Midamar said it has extended an open invitation to Islamic scholars and designated community leaders in the US, Asia, Middle East, and GCC countries.

Official auditors and community leaders are invited to visit Halal facilities in the USA and witness Midamar processes for themselves. Midamar said it will "engage in discussion on the true nature of the US Halal industry, its practices, challenges and opportunities".

Prosecutors claimed the beef came from a supplier that used bolt stunning to kill cattle and the labels were removed by employees to cover up the real source of the meat.

Source: http://www.arabianbusiness.com/us-firm-extends-invite-islamic-scholars-in-fake-gulf-halal-food-case-577894.html

Global Halal Food Standards must be Consistent

Ongoing developments include certification, accreditation and standard setting

Halal food sector across the globe will need to be integrated through uniform standards. This was endorsed by food experts at the 9th Dubai International Food safety conference on Tuesday.

“The halal food sector is poised for significant growth over the next five years. Current estimates suggest that the global halal food segment is worth around $667 billion and accounts for around 20 per cent of the global food trade,” said Khalid Sheriff, director food control department at Dubai Municipality. “Such huge amounts of foods require applying uniform and harmonised standards and regulations.”

Khalid was speaking at the second Halal Food Symposium. He stressed on how the Halal food industry will soon be the turning point in Dubai’s economic development.

“As Dubai aims to be the ‘capital of the Islamic economy’ in two years, many initiatives are being prepared at the federal and local levels to cater for the need to establish laws and regulations related to halal foods.”

The initiatives range from updating existing standards to drafting new ones to fill any legislative gap, and to harmonise regulations globally.

The ongoing developments in the halal food business include certification, accreditation and standard setting.

Representatives of various regulatory and statutory bodies from all around the world, especially Islamic countries and the countries that export foods to Islamic countries were among the participants, in addition to international organizations and private institutions.

Amir Sakic, Halal food expert, Agency for Halal Quality Certification, Islamic Community – Bosnia and Herzegovina, spoke about how to tackle the issues in halal food business, trends and experiences, while Dr Abdallah Belal Adam, Leader of Halal Meat Research Group, University of HAIL- Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, shed light on the halal meat authenticity, new analytic methods in differentiation between halal and non-halal meat.

Source: http://www.emirates247.com/news/global-halal-food-standards-must-be-consistent-2014-11-12-1.569715

Pakistanis invited to China Halal Food Expo

LAHORE: The presence of over 20 million Muslims in China offer a huge potential for the halal food market, an opportunity Pakistani businessmen should avail.

This was stated by the Qinhai Chamber of International Commerce (QCIC) Chairman Xihui Wang, who was heading a 20-member delegation, while speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Tuesday.

Xihui Wang said that a big halal food exhibition is being held in the Qinhai province in May and it would be a great opportunity for the Pakistani businesses. He said that another exhibition titled ‘Green Economy’ is scheduled for June while a carpet expo will be held in August.

The chairman invited Pakistani businessmen to all three exhibitions, saying that Chinese were quite keen to do business with their Pakistani counterparts.

Speaking on the occasion, LCCI Acting President Mian Tariq Misbah said that rapid economic globalisation and regional integration provides a good opportunity for further cooperation between the two countries.

He said that the visit by the Chinese delegation would pave way for active collaboration in different sectors including halal foods, livestock, carpets, pharmaceutical, textile products and machinery. It will also lay a solid foundation in expanding the scope of people-to-people contact including businessmen from both the countries, Misbah added.

“Joint ventures in (various) sectors with Chinese investors will certainly boost production, employment and exports earning of the country. We would like to play a role in materialising these business deals.”

He informed the Chinese delegation that LCCI has established a Mediation Centre in August 2012. There are more than 40 accredited mediators registered with LCCI who can help local, national and international businessmen for out of court settlement.

Speaking on the occasion, the LCCI Vice President Kashif Anwar sought the help of Chinese businessmen for cooperation with the LCCI Mediation Centre, saying some Chinese companies even do not reply to letters from LCCI Mediation Centre therefore it is requested that the message should be conveyed to the Chambers of Commerce in China.

He said that the quality of goods and machinery, being supplied to Pakistan was not up to the mark and the Chinese businessmen should look into this area.

Source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/679074/pakistanis-invited-to-china-halal-food-expo/

Posted By: Rabia HRC