Five new halal products bearing fruit

PETALING JAYA: A number of university research initiatives on halal products are beginning to bear fruit, with some of them now on the verge of breaking into the market.

Five such products were highlighted during the recent World Halal Week (WHW) 2013 for the purpose of sharing and commercialising new research findings and innovations that are worth being marketed.

Being new and literally small players in the business industry, these halal products are from various industries like pharmaceuticals, packaging clusters, food and cosmetics, and had gone through deep research works before being turned into products that can benefit the consumer.

Excellent Icon Sdn Bhd director R Sathiyamoorthy said the two-year-old company was aggressively into producing nature-friendly tapioca-based tableware products.

“Our products are edible. They are alternative products for existing plastic and polystyrene tableware products,” he said, adding that the company has a production capacity of 100,000 per month.

Sathiyamoorthy, who is also a mechanical engineer, said its products could withstand heat for up to two hours and they are “eatable”.

Moving forward, the company eyed WHW 2013 as a platform to commercialise its products as a part of its strategic plan to expand business.

International Islamic University Malaysia’s international institute for halal research and training (INHART) invented a ready-to-consume beverage called Agarwood Hydrosol.

INHART director Hamzah Mohd Salleh said the younger generation was more attracted to such healthy beverages.

Starting small, INHART is looking to engage with small and medium entrepreneurs to market its products. Reszon Diagnostics International Sdn Bhd introduced a diagnostic system for malaria, namely PlasmoNex, which is pending intellectual property (IP) patenting.

University Malaya associate professor Chua Kek Heng said PlasmoNex is a highly sensitive substance designed to detect malaria at an initial stage.

Concerning rising malaria cases, he said in 2008, 247 million malaria cases were recorded globally, with close to a million ending in death, triggering the research team to come out with the ingredient.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia research institute team introduced its agricultural product called “CiliBangi”. The organic seed product is said to have a high resistance level against viruses with upgraded flowering and fruit maturity.

Another product highlighted at the conference was halal collagen and hydroxyapatite (HAp), an extract from fish scales, produced by Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.

The patented invention technique is said to be economical and simple without the usage of chemicals and enzymes which yield 40% to 60% of collagen and HAp produced from the same fish scales.

All the products were nominated for a WHW 2013 award as potential halal products to be developed and commercialised.

WHW 2013, previously known as Malaysia Halal Week, aims to bring economic and wholesome benefits and services for Muslims and non-Muslims alike to establish Malaysia as a global halal referral centre.

Last year, six IPs were successfully matched and commercialised, including Beauticococa based cosmetics, an interactive courseware multimedia for umrah and haj, V-Haj and others within the food, pharmaceuticals and packaging clusters.

Press Release :Halal Research Council and KPK Agriculture University Signed Agreement

Halal Research Council and KPK Agriculture University will work together for the development of Halal Industry.

11-04-2013

                                     

(Lahore) A Strategic Partnership agreement signing ceremony between Halal Research Council and KPK Agriculture University was held today at the office of Vice Chancellor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Agriculture University; in which the experts from food, nutrition, livestock and other Industries were participated.

According to the agreement, Halal Research Council and KPK Agriculture University will provide joint consultation, training, research and technical assistance to each other for the promotion of Halal industry especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.  The strategic partnership agreement was signed by the Chief Executive Officer of Halal Research Council Muhummad Zubair Mughal, Professor Dr. Khan Bahadur Marwart Vice Chancellor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture University and Professor Dr. M. Subhan Qureshi – Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences. As per the agreement, Halal Research Council will provide international linkages and Halal Certification services to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Halal related industries. Professor Dr. Khan Bahadur Marwart Vice Chancellor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture University, addressing the agreement signing ceremony, said that nowadays distinction between Halal and Haram has become a big issue and organizations like Halal Research Council has smoothen this issue for general public through its expertise. He further added that due to this agreement between Halal Research Council and KPK Agriculture University, Halal Industry in Pakistan and particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will progress rapidly. Professor Dr. M. Subhan Qureshi Dean Faculty of Veterinary Sciences said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has a specialty that livestock is in abundance here. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a mountainous area, hence, meat is available in excess here relatively to dairy; and substantial amount of profit can be earned by exporting meat in the international market with Halal logo.  

Muhummad Zubair Mughal the Executive Officer of Halal Research Council said that the Halal Research Council’s agreement with KPK Agriculture University will be a milestone in the development of Halal Industry, due to which educational and training efforts along with trade and advancement in Halal sector can be further strengthened. He said that Pakistan’s Shariah values are acknowledged all over the world. If we export Halal meat, poultry, dairy, confectionary, spices and other food products from Pakistan to international market, then they will be highly recognized due to our Shariah values.  Moreover, he mentioned that Halal Research Council has started an 8-month Post Graduate Diploma to provide trainings on Halal industry internationally, so that experts from food, dairy, livestock and other related departments can enhance their capabilities and knowledge about Halal. This will help them ensure the quality standards in the concerned departments. He also informed that our diploma is acknowledged around the world and many international food and agriculture universities have shown their interests to make the topic of Halal as part of their educational syllabus.

It must be noted that Halal Research Council is a Pakistan based institution that is providing Halal Certification and Education & Training in Pakistan and many other countries.

Has halal food become just a commercial commodity?

It is easy to blindly trust the assurances of international food manufacturers that the food they're selling is 100 per cent halal. But, how do we really know whether the food we are eating is Shariah-compliant?

The halal-food industry has now become a multi-billion dollar business, and it suffers from the same wheeling and dealing as any other highly sought-after product. The industry is worth some $600 billion in the global market, and some traders are only too happy to slap a halal tag onto the products we buy. We don't really question the background of the factory producing the food item or who really owns it.

The definition of halal is 'anything that is legal or lawful for Muslims'. In terms of meat, this can apply to the kind of animal used (pork is not allowed, for instance) and the way in which they are slaughtered. The animal must be healthy. The butcher must recite a prayer, dedicating the animal to God. The jugular vein, carotid artery, and windpipe are cut with a single swipe from a sharp knife. Shariah declares that the animal should die immediately, and the blood must drain away before the meat can be prepared for consumption.

However, in the West, most animals are stunned before their throats are slit. Halal food inspectors in Europe allow butchers to stun the animal first by driving a bolt into its skull, gassing it, or electrocuting it before slaughter. Then, they label the meat halal and allow it to be sold to the market. However, the UK charity group, Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), admits that slaughtering an animal with one clean swipe of the knife is more humane than driving a bolt into the brains of these animals.

Animal-rights campaigners note that 90 per cent of all the meat served in popular fast-food outlets comes from animals that were stunned before slaughter. They also point out that most of the meat exported from Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and France are from animals killed in the same way. The RSPCA is now campaigning for these governments to include the method of slaughter on the halal label. So far, the world's meat producers have resisted the call, knowing that if the RSPCA had its way, then the halal meat they are promoting would become questionable. Why don't they simply slaughter the animal? A survey in the United Kingdom showed that half a million animals are killed every day for the meat market, and suppliers find it quicker to gas the animal, rather than slaughter it.

Beyond the West, animals are indeed being slaughtered the correct way. But a recent survey in Malaysia revealed that not all the slaughter-houses employ Muslims. In Indonesia, the canned-food industry has been criticised for allowing traces of non-halal ingredients to be mixed with popular dishes, without any mention of this on the label. 

It is not the West and unscrupulous suppliers that we should watch out for; we should worry about our children, who don't really care to ask questions. Top chefs around the world are now discovering the large appetites of young Muslims, who nod their heads at the mention of the word halal but don't really care about what is being placed on the table before them. Halal food is gourmet food; it is no longer just a special menu that meets the requirements of a religion. It is part of a global franchise that serves the palates of millions of people.  

It is a trade first, with faith running a distant second. The appeal of halal food is rapidly diverging from its original purpose. It is becoming the razzmatazz of enthusiasts, regardless of faith. It is a romance for those who want to experiment without delving into authenticity. 

It is also fast becoming an exclusive club that is stretching beyond food to halal tourism, halal hotels, and now, halal advertisements. The word alone is on the verge of becoming an expensive commodity, marketed by shrewd businesspeople who want to tap into this new industry, taking advantage of the unwitting faithful.

Moscow Halal Business Forum will pass in June 13-14 in Moscow

Moscow Halal Business Forum will bring together experts to discuss an emerging global interest in principles of Islamic economy

On June 13-14 Moscow will host the event which will bring together Halal industry players, Shariah experts and specialists in Islamic finance, academicians and government representatives. All of them will participate in Moscow Halal Business Forum, organized annually as an important part of International Moscow Halal Expo 2013.

Among the goals of the Business Forum are promotion of ethical principles in the economy, expansion of halal products market, sharing experiences in Halal certification and Islamic finance, strengthening of business relations between Russia and the Islamic world.

This year Moscow Halal Business Forumwill consistof IV MoscowHalalCongress and IV Islamic Finance and Investment Forum.

MoscowHalalCongress will raise questions of Halal standard unification, interaction with public authorities, increasing volumes of Russian exports and imports of Halal products, the industry development in Russia, CIS countries and around the world.

The composition of Islamic Finance and Investment Forum will allow participants to broaden their knowledge of Islamic financial instruments and markets in a special international seminar, which will take place on the first day, June 13. On the second day the experts will share their practical experience in the organization of Islamic businesses, discuss the challenges and prospects Islamic finance market development.

Moscow Halal Business Forum will take place on June 13-14, 2013 at All-Russia Exhibition Center, pavilion 75.

www.halalrc.org 

Spain Muslims Introduce Halal Culture

CAIRO – In an effort to accelerate integration of the sizable minority, a Muslim body in Spain is planning a seminar on Tuesday, March 12, to improve access of Spanish Muslims to halal food and services.
“Halal is a global concept that refers to the set of practices and conducts that are permitted, according to the Shari`ah or Islamic law,” the Halal Training School, a training center sponsored by the Islamic Council of Cordoba, said in a press release obtained by On Islam.net.
“For this reason, the “II Seminar: Halal, a global concept”, has been organized with the motto "A door to integration and the opening of new markets".
The seminar aims to help Muslims get due information about halal concept, its fields of application, standards, difficulties and developments in the market.
“The Halal Institute continues working, with this line of training and dissemination of the Halal concept, towards the normalization and social integration of the Muslim community, as well as improving their access to Halal food and services,” the release said.
The seminar is recognized by the University of Cordoba and sponsored by the Campus of international excellence (CEIA3) and the Halal Institute.
It will be opened by José Carlos Gomez, Vice Provost of postgraduate studies and continuing education of the University of Cordoba.
Leading among attendees are Librado Carrasco, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Cordoba, Mariam Isabel Romero, General Manager of the Halal Institute, Natalia Andujar, Director of Educaislam, Salud Serrano, lecturer at the UCO and Hanif Escudero, the Director of the Halal Training School.
The concept of halal, -- meaning permissible in Arabic -- has traditionally been applied to food.
Muslims should only eat meat from livestock slaughtered by a sharp knife from their necks, and the name of Allah, the Arabic word for God, must be mentioned.
Now other goods and services can also be certified as halal, including cosmetics, clothing, pharmaceuticals and financial services.
Halal food is consumed not only by 1.5 billion Muslims around the world, but also by at least 500 million non-Muslims in the $2 billion global industry.
Halal Culture
A series of lectures will be held as part of the seminar to spread comprehensive theoretical knowledge of halal production and services.
“For the Halal school it is important to guarantee high quality learning,” the press release said.
“For this reason, the training is imparted in an academic context, guided by experts in Islamic food legislation, in Shari`ah and Islam and by professionals in the food industry.”
Several lectures will be given by experts as Manuela Jodral, Professor of Food Science of Food, Said Bouzraa, Chief Auditor of Aud Halal, and Flora Saez, Director of Communications of Nur & Huda Travels.
The event will also conclude the second course of technicians in production of Halal food, which has been held since January 14.
Practical courses would also be offered to attendants.
“The day also includes activities such as Halal Cooking Show led by Ibrahim Romero, Halal chef who will prepare a menu, while telling us his tricks and techniques for cooking Halal.”
Spain has a Muslim minority of 1.4 million, making up about 3 percent of the country’s population, according to the Islamic Commission of Spain.
Islam is the second religion in Spain after Christianity and has been recognized through the 1967 law of religious freedom.

Halal returns to ACJU

With the government distancing itself from issuing Halal certificate, the All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama (ACJU) said they would proceed with Halal certification regardless of its consequences.
Speaking to The Nation, Aslam Zubair, Media Coordinator at the ACJU cited that “the ACJU had not ordered the government to take it over but merely suggested for it to be brought under the preview of a recognized institution or ministry in an attempt to negate the controversies.”
At a meeting held at their head office on Friday (1), President of the ACJU Ash Sheikh Rizwie Mufti met with members of the organization and urged for them to continue the issuance of the Halal certificate.
The move comes in the wake of the government turning down the ACJU’s request to take over the Halal certification process.
“Not putting the Halal logo does not make it Haram. But because non-Muslims are reluctant of buying products that do have the logo on it, we are urging companies to confine the label only to products sold for the Muslim community,” he said. “The product might be the same, so will the ingredients, but because the logo has caused so much uproar, there will be products with and some without it,” Zubair said.
Zubair cited the ACJU accepts Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella’s opinion that the Halal issue had been blown out of proportion. “First there was an issue with the logo, then the name, then the implications.”
In a media statement the ACJU reiterated its stance that the issuance of Halal certification with the intention of facilitating the availability of Halal foods to Muslims on a service oriented basis without any commercial motive.
Meanwhile, reacting to the ACJU’s decision, General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera said they would continue to hold ‘peaceful protests’ against the issuing of Halal certificates by the ACJU.
“We have repeatedly stressed that the Halal certification is unnecessary and we urge companies to refrain from applying for Halal certificates and those that already have obtained the certificates to withdraw them immediately” he noted.
The Thera warned that if companies continued to keep the Halal label on their products, they would have no choice but to urge a general boycott of those companies and their products.
He dismissed the ACJU’s claim that only one company has so far withdrawn their Halal certification. “That is an absolute lie. We know for a fact that around 10-12 companies have already written to the ACJU informing them of their desire to withdraw Halal certification from their products. We have the letters with us”, he claimed.

AlHuda CIBE will conduct a research study for Islamic Microfinance in Azerbaijan

An agreement for the advancement of Islamic microfinance was signed between AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics and Vision Fund AzerCredit in a splendid ceremony at the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. According to the agreement, AlHuda CIBE will conduct market research in different cities of Azerbaijan including Baku to formally initiate Islamic microfinance in Azerbaijan. Mr. Zubair Mughal, Chief Executive Officer, of AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics and Mr. Sameer Jaffer Ali, Deputy Chairman Board of Directors, of Vision Fund AzerCredit signed the agreement. 

While addressing the agreement ceremony, Mr. Sameer Jaffer Ali said that this agreement is a milestone for the foundation of Islamic microfinance in Azerbaijan. It will lead to the commencement of micro and SME finances based on Islamic principles. He said that Azerbaijan is a country with 99% Muslim population and its people have been waiting for Islamic finance for quite a long time. This agreement is the first step towards fulfilling their financial needs according to Islamic principles. He said that through research reports we will get the realistic and pragmatic information on Islamic finance’s requirement in Azerbaijan, keeping in view public needs and demands, Vision Fund AzerCredit will introduce Islamic Microfinance products in the Azerbaijan market. 

Muhammad Zubair Mughal, Chief Executive Officer, of AlHuda Centre of Islamic Banking and Economics, while addressing the ceremony said that Azerbaijan will prove to be a good market for Islamic finance products as there is a high public demands for these products and it will further increase in the coming days. He, referring to his research in the different cities of Azerbaijan (Goycey, Sabirabad, Mislli etc.), said that there is very high demand of Islamic finances in rural and semi-urban areas and people were happy and excited when they learned about Islamic microfinance. Moreover, he said that legal and revolutionary amendments are required for the advancement of Islamic finances in Azerbaijan. It’s hoped that in coming days this issue will be sorted and Islamic retail banking will start in an effective manner. Approximately 10 Islamic finance institutions, including one government bank, are providing Islamic finance facilities at corporate level, which is a luminous illustration of Islamic banking and finance in Azerbaijan. 

It should be noted that AzerCredit is the second largest microfinance institution in Azerbaijan, which is providing its services in 18 regions of the country through its network of 56 branches. AlHuda CIBE is a Pakistani organization which is performing Islamic finance research services in difference countries. Particularly for the progress of Islamic microfinance, it established a specialized Department, AlHuda Centre of Excellence in Islamic Microfinance, which is providing its services for the development of Islamic Microfinance Globally.

World’s First Post Graduate Diploma on Halal Industry is Launched

World’s First Post Graduate Diploma on Halal Industry is going to be launched in Pakistan from the 1^st of November, 2012 which will be presented through Modern Online technology concurrently around the world so that the education and awareness regarding Halal Food and products could be spread in Muslin and non Muslim Countries with special reference for those countries where Muslims are in minority and they remain tensed about Halal food products. While telling about the aims and objectives of this diploma, Chief Executive Officer of Halal Research Council, Mr. Muhammad Zubair Mughal said that this diploma would be of 8 months which will consist of 4 Modules and each module would consist of 2 courses. In first Module, concepts of Halal and General Guidance about Halal Food would be taught whereas Role of Food Ingredients and Halal Slaughtering in second Module, prospective of Halal Industry worldwide and Halal banking in third Module and Halal Standardization and prospective of Halal Industry in developed Area will be taught in fourth module.

He said that the Diploma is based on state-of-the-art technology in which a student can get log in to his/her account and can get benefit from different facilities like Lessons, Assignments, Live chat with tutor and online examination. He further said that it took 1 year to design this diploma which is a the result of efforts of Food technologists, Shari’ah Experts, agricultural scientists, livestock and Islamic banking experts. He said that in shaa Allah, with the help of this diploma, Muslims would have more knowledge regarding Halal food and would help in promoting Halal Industry.

It should be clear that Halal Food Industry is flourishing at a very rapid pace and its volume has reached to 2.3 Trillion Dollars. It is expected that this diploma would provide strong pillars to Halal Food industry on practical bases. For further information regarding this diploma, Visit www.halalrc.org  

Halal Research Council expand its international network

To meet the needs of awareness & promotion of Halal Industry Worldwide, Halal Research Council adds five new strategic partners to its network by signing an agreements with them in January 2013, so that, the concept of Halal and Halal food requirements to be fulfilled effectively. Halal Research council’s new strategic partners include Islamic Development & Research Academy (Belgium), Kenya bureau of Halal certification (Kenya), Halal Tech (Iran), Rangoon Consultancy (Pakistan) and Islamic Information & Documentation Center (Austria). The purpose behind strategic partnership is to take international Halal industry in confidence for the promoting Pakistan’s Halal market & industries. It should be noted that world’s Halal product is worth 2.3 trillion Dollars. As Pakistan is an agricultural country and due to its excellent livestock and 100% Halal products, it has an opportunity to be introduced as a Halal products leader, through which its foreign exchange can be increased by minimizing the trade deficit of Pakistan, which is the basic need of time right now.

M. Zubair Mughal- Chief Executive Officer of Halal Research Council said that Allah Almighty has given Pakistan a unique status in the world because of its strong Shariah principles.  Pakistan is the only country where 100% Halal products are available and due to this Pakistan's Halal industry has achieved an illustrious position in the world market. By taking its full advantage, we can Export Pakistani products with Halal logo to world's 2.3 trillion Dollars worth market. Halal Research Council has played a prominent role for the promotion of Halal industry. In the continuation of its services and taking a step forward, it will be arranging a conference on "Halal Tourism" in the near future. So that Muslims from different countries can get the understanding and awareness about Halal Tourism industry. He also said that Halal Research Council is the only institution of Pakistan whose Halal services are simultaneously available in 20 countries. He stated that Halal Research Council's strategic partnership network comprises on institutions from America, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Philippines, Brazil, Germany, India and Pakistan.  This year they had welcomed institutions from four new countries i.e. Kenya, Australia, Belgium and Iran; which is an honor for Pakistan. The main aim of this strategic partnership is to promote the online Distance Learning Program on Halal Industry. So that, Professionals of Halal and Food Industries get benefit from this diploma.

New Zealand: Say Hello to Halal

Understand halal, or miss out on an enormously business opportunity. According to a recent estimate, 23% of the global population, or 1.57 billion people, are Muslims, with a massive and growing population among our near neighbours in South East Asia. And in the latest New Zealand study, more than 36,000 people identified themselves as Muslim. Halal in the Muslim faith is defined by the Quran as ‘allowed’, ‘permitted’ or ‘lawful’. To be halal, certain activities must be done in accordance with a specific set of rules and guiding principles. This includes the prohibition on eating certain animals, including pork, intoxicants such as alcohol and blood or blood products. It also outlines methods of slaughtering animals that are to be eaten.

Already some of our nation’s most forward-thinking companies are successfully tapping into this market. Unsurprisingly, dairy is leading the way. Colostrum: the first milk produced by cows that have just calved, is the latest ‘super food’ to take the health conscious world by storm. And expert suppliers like Auckland-based NZX-listed New Image are ensuring that includes the Muslim world by making sure the animal handling and production of the colostrum and the gelatine capsules it comes in meet Halal standards. The company is currently exporting approximately NZ $30-40 million worth of colostrum per year to Halal-based markets and its products have been halal certified for more than five years.

Simon Yarrow, general manager, global sales and marketing, said the process of getting certification was not difficult, requiring only a few ingredients to be changed, and entry into halal markets in Malaysia and Indonesia was also simple once the paperwork was in place.

Meanwhile, BurgerFuel is also leveraging healthy eating and halal to make inroads into the Muslim market. The Auckland based firm is using its a range of halal menu options to fuel its growth in the Middle East. The firm has so far opened up stores in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and is primed for further expansion with further Master Licence agreements in place for Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain and Libya.

Alexis Lam, Marketing Manager, said: “Our beef in New Zealand has been Halal for quite some time now, so there wasn’t a need for us to reshape our whole supply line in order to make the new territories viable.”

The target market for BurgerFuel is the Middle East’s emerging younger, more affluent population, particularly in forward-thinking city locations like Dubai. To achieve and maintain its certification, the company works with its whole supply chain to ensure that all BurgerFuel suppliers go through the relevant procedures and signoff processes for their industry.

Lam said: “There seems to be a healthy respect for the Halal certification we have in New Zealand. It has opened up a whole new market for us as well as another revenue stream as we become an exporter of 100% pure New Zealand grass fed beef as well as the Master Franchisor. I think the Kiwi firms that have global outlook in terms of their business and brand have a great opportunity in the Halal market,” he said. “It’s about a willingness to get out there and talk to the people.”

At the same time the New Zealand Asia Institute, which is part of the University of Auckland Business School is urging NZ Inc. to look beyond food for halal opportunities and develop a keener sensitivity to the Muslim religious lifestyle as a whole, both here and abroad. This would provide big boosts to sectors like financial services, travel and tourism.

Business School Dean Professor Greg Whittred said: “It is important that halal is recognised as more than just a commodities-based economy but validated as a much larger and broader entity that includes lifestyle, culture and politics.”

And Fiona Acheson, Trade Commissioner, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, added: “Halal consumers are a growing market. About 27% of Asia is Muslim, but the Muslim population is forecast to grow at about twice the rate of the non-Muslim population in the next two decades and 60% are under 30 years of age. It’s this younger group that are starting to seek halal products and want to buy food products, not just meat, and even cosmetics and pharmaceutical products that are halal. The first step is to recognise halal as a consumer trend and respond to it as you would with other trends such as sustainability and organics. Understand what the market potential is for your product if it carried the halal brand.”

By Andy Kenworthy

Delegates to Sample Variety of Halal Foods Provided by Midamar at This Year’s ISNA Convention

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (PRWEB) August 31, 2012

Midamar will be exhibiting at the 49th Annual Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Convention themed “One Nation under God – Striving for the Common Good”. The convention will be held over Labor Day weekend at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC and is expected to attract more than 30,000 attendees from across the eastern region of the USA.

Midamar will be supplying a variety of popular Halal food options to the attendees, including Halal pepperoni pizza, beef burgers, beef franks, beef gyros, fully cooked chicken tenders, and boneless, skinless chicken breast and thighs. Midamar is often described as a pioneer in the Halal Food industry. Established in 1974, Midamar was the first food company in the USA to coordinate with USDA in the development of Halal standards and processes in USDA inspected and approved processing facilities. Since then, Midamar has become a globally recognized Halal Brand and leading exporter of USA produced Halal foods.

“From the outset, our mission was to provide premium quality, Midwestern meat and poultry to Halal consumers in the USA and around the world, and to do this while maintaining the strictest Halal compliance standards” said Midamar Director Jalel Aossey. “We have been attending the ISNA convention for decades, and are thrilled to be able to supply the delegates with a variety of premium quality Halal food options. With so many people attending this conference, it is important to offer meals that will appeal to a variety of tastes and preferences.”

Besides supplying Halal food to be served at the Convention Center Food Court, Midamar will be holding taste testing and sampling sessions at its booth number 837 in the famous ISNA International Bazaar. “We will be offering samples of Halal Hot Links, Beef Franks, and all white meat fully cooked Chicken Tenders. All attendees are welcome to come to our booth and taste Midamar products,” explained Aossey.

Aossey’s grandfather started his business in Iowa in 1915 and his father Bill Aossey established Midamar in 1974 as the USA’s first Halal food company. The company now sells products in North America, Africa, the Middle East, and South East Asia. “Midamar is a Halal brand that produces and distributes Halal products. As a Halal company, we incorporate values of family and community in everything we do. Before we embark on new projects or pursue new opportunities, we assess the impact on the people and the environment we live in. Being a Halal company is much more than being a company that sells Halal products.”

As the first Halal food company to develop an e-commerce site in 1999 and the first Halal brand to export from the USA to Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, Midamar has established itself as an innovative leader in the Halal Industry. It is the first US company to offer Halal Organic Beef and Chicken Line to consumers in the USA and internationally.

Recently, Midamar was honored with the "Distinguished Community Service Award" from the USDA's Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. It was the first company to receive the USDA award "For exemplary work in providing Halal food options for Muslims in America and around the world". Midamar is also the first USA based food company to receive the coveted international award for “Best New Halal Food” at Gulfood in Dubai for two years running.

Brunei: Brunei Halal has potential in Halal Cosmetics

The Embassy of South Korea is keen to facilitate the discussion of the use of Brunei's Halal brand in Korean cosmetic products, said the South Korean Ambassador to Brunei.

In an email interview with The Brunei Times, Ambassador of South Korea to Brunei His Excellency Choi Byung-Koo, pointed out that the world halal market is enormous and getting bigger as global Muslim population continues to increase.

“Here, I see a potential for cooperation between Korea and Brunei in cosmetic industry. Korea’s technique combined with Brunei’s halal reputation can create the best combination to compete in the blue ocean market of halal cosmetics.”

He said that he had held discussions with key people in the halal industry, including Ghanim (the company managing marketing of the Brunei Halal brand), BEDB (Brunei Economic Development Board), and MIPR(Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources), and that he had sent letters to major Korean cosmetic companies to let them know about the potential for cooperation with Brunei.

“Some companies showed interest. And there might be business coming in. My embassy will do its best to assist facilitating the cooperation in this area,” he said.


He also noted that Korean cosmetic products are very popular and well received in Brunei, noting many Korean cosmetic shops such as Laniege, Face Shop, Skin Food, Skin79, Etude, Holika Holika and Tony Molyhave been established in the country.

After speaking to owners and staff of those companies, he noted that the variety and high quality of the Korean cosmetic products were the reason behind their popularity.

“World wide popularity of Korean cosmetic products is also backed by the surge of K-pop and Korean dramas. This also led to the people’s interest to know more about Korea’s culture and society.”

He said that he viewed Brunei as a nature loving country, “second-to-none,” and by having best-preserved forest and biodiversity, Brunei also has a huge potential in pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry.

The ambassador noted that “Brunei’s pure and advanced image boosted Brunei’s international standing for Halal Brand”.

Earlier in June this year, A memorandum of understanding was signed between Universiti BruneiDarussalam and Gyeonggi Institute of Science and Technology Promotion, a South Korean commercial research institute, to utilise Brunei’s local biodiversity for potential commercial products such as pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

By Koo Jin Shen, Brunei Times

WE INVITE ALL MUSLIMS TO HALAL WORLD FORUM 2012 FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

After 8th and 9th. General Assembly Meeting of WHC in Istanbul/Turkey, 10th General Assembly Meeting of the World Halal Council (WHC) will be held on 23 & 24 November 2012 in Manila, Philippines.
We are pleased to inform you that the 10th General Assembly Meeting of the World Halal Council (WHC),the global federation of Halal Certifiers is scheduled for the first time in Manila, Philippines on 23 & 24 November2012 at the Shangri-la Hotel in Makati City, Philippines.
The Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines, Inc. (IDCP) is hosting this event, and, in addition, a 2-day Halal World Forum (HWF) 2012 for Halal manufacturers, suppliers, rdealers, academe and consumes is also being organized on 21 & 22 November 2012 in order to have a harmonious meeting and dialogue between the producers, consumers and certifiers around the world.
In connection with the 2-day Halal World Forum, we are pleased to extend our cordial invitation to you and your organization to participate in this meeting and business matching event.
The hotel venue is at the business center of Makati City, which is conveniently located for your business and pleasure during your stay in the Philippines.
Considering that we have limited the number of participants to only 500, the participant’s registration as well as hotel accommodation is on a “first come first serve “ basis in which IDCP will be happy to assist you.

ATTY. ABDUL RAHMAN R. T. LINZAG
President/CEO
Islamic Da’wah Council of the Philippines, Inc. (IDCP)
Member, Executive Committee – World Halal Council (WHC)

Engro Foods Canada set to make profit next year

Engro Foods Canada is poised to post a profit next year by increasing availability of its halal meat product line in major chains of retail outlets across the North American continent, Engro Foods CEO Afnan Ahsan said on Wednesday.
The total size of the halal meat market in North America, which includes Canada and the United States, is estimated at $290 billion.
Al Safa Halal is a halal meat brand of Engro Foods Canada and its subsidiary Engro Foods USA, LLC. The brand existed for over 10 years before it was acquired by Engro Foods in May 2011, a first-of-its-kind offshore venture ever undertaken by a Pakistani conglomerate in the $632 billion global foods business.
So far, Al Safa Halal is running in loss. It posted a loss after tax of Canadian $313,000 for January-March 2012, according to Engro Corporation’s directors’ report to the shareholders.
“The total revenue for the first half of 2012 is C$5.8 million,” Ahsan told The Express Tribune, adding that the company is expected to become profitable in 2013.
Current losses are not reflected in the financial performance of Engro Foods. Rather, they are consolidated in Engro Corporation’s financial statements in view of the prevailing corporate laws, according to which a company must remain profitable for three years before acquiring an offshore entity.
“From next year onwards, books of Engro Foods will show the financial performance of Al Safa Halal separately,” he said.
The Halal meat market in North America is highly fragmented, according to Ahsan. Top 10 players collectively have less than 15% share of the Halal meat market, he added. In the segments of chicken, beef, pizza and vegetable, Al Safa Halal currently offers 18 products in Canada and 21 products in the US.
Its presence in the US is clearly not as strong as in Canada, although the former is a 10 times bigger market than the latter. While Al Safa Halal products are available in the outlets of at least 12 leading retail chains across all major cities of Canada, they are available in the US mostly through ethnic stores. The reason for its deeper footprint in Canada is that Al Safa Halal was originally a Canadian company, Ahsan said.
Still, roughly 80% business of Al Safa Halal in Canada comes from ethnic stores. “First-generation immigrants tend to buy food from ethnic stores. But their second generation, which is more integrated into the mainstream society, is likely to buy food from major retail outlets,” he noted.
Estimates say that 83% of all food purchases in North America are carried out in major retail stores. Al Safa Halal aims to increase the share of major retail outlets in its revenues in Canada to 50% in the next five years.
In the US market, however, its products are available mainly in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. New markets for Al Safa Halal in the US are Chicago, Los Angeles and major cities of Texas, which have a concentration of Muslim population.
Among the top five North America-based management positions in Engro Foods, four are held by people of Pakistani origin. The only white Canadian, who is chief operations officer, was retained by Engro Corporation upon its acquisition of Al Safa Halal, where he had already been working in the sales division.
“Of the 27 people Engro employs in North America, we have people from Iran, Sudan, Ethiopia and Venezuela. I think three or four of them are non-Muslims,” he said, adding that the company is an equal opportunity employer.

Still many Muslim restaurants preparing food without halal logo Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/08/07/still-many-muslim-restaurants-preparing-food-without-halal-logo-nasir/#ixzz22qTaYnlw

KOTA KINABALU: There is still a handful of Muslim restaurants found to be preparing food with Al-Quran verses without the halal logo in their premises.
Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran said a recent survey conducted by enforcement personnel found that those restaurants did not have any halal logo certified by the relevant authority.
“I advise these restaurant owners not to display the Quran verses if they have not been certified and issued with the halal logo and certificate to prevent any confusion to the public, especially to the Muslim community,” he said during a joint inspection with the State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains) and the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Department in Sinsuran Complex here yesterday.
According to Nasir, about 30 percent of the 390 Muslim premises such as restaurants and those selling consumer products in the state have been certified and have the halal logo from Jheains.
He said most of the restaurant owners assumed that they need not have to apply for the halal certificate because they are Muslim and only sell halal food.
Nasir added that the matter had been looked into and the need for a halal logo had been enforced since January 1 this year to ensure all Muslim restaurants applied for the halal certificate to prevent any confusion.
“As of January 1, about 80 halal certificates have been issued to Muslim restaurant owners throughout the state,” he said.

Thailand: Sri Lankan Halal products look for global reach

The All Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama Halaal Division (ACJU- HD) headed by As Sheikh Mufti Rizwe recently visited the Central Islamic Council of Thailand which is responsible for Thailand Halal Food Production and the Halal Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok,” the ACJU-HD said in a statement.
“Thailand currently exports 312 Million US dollars of Halal Food and Cosmetic Products annually and is planning on a 40 percent increase year on year. The Global Market for Halal Food and Cosmetic Products is in the region of 1 Trillion US dollars per annum.
“The Government of Thailand has appointed the Central Islamic Council of Thailand (CICOT) to be responsible for the Institute of Halal Food Standards in Thailand. The Halal Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University has a world class Halal science laboratory in the heart of Bangkok. The Laboratory is fully equipped with a variety of advanced and sophisticated scientific instruments to perform testing to ensure an item is halal.
“Currently the ACJU- HD is in the process of signing a memorandum of understanding with both CICOT and the Halal Science Center to ensure all products locally certified by the ACJU – HD have global recognition. This agreement will enable Sri Lankan Halal certified products to have a Global reach, thus enabling Sri Lankan exports to also have a share in the Trillion Dollar Food and Cosmetic Market,” the statement said.

Halal on the Menu at the ACI

The Adult Correctional Institutions will be serving Halal meals to Muslim inmates after reaching a settlement with a group of inmates who filed suit in 2008.
In the lawsuit, the inmates argued that the state refused to provide the Halal meals, substituting vegetarian meals which do not respect Muslim practice.
WPRI reported that that inmates also asked to pray in a group and wear Kufi head wear outside their cells, but those requests were rejected because of security concerns.
Halal food follows Islamic Law and is prepared under specific circumstances. It must not be prepared, processed or stored near or in contact with food that does not obey Islamic Law.
Some foods which are considered unlawful are: pigs, boars, carnivorous animals with claws and fangs, birds of prey with claws, animals that live on both land and in water, all poisonous aquatic animals and food additives. Animals must be slaughtered properly with respect and causing the animal as little pain as possible. Typically, the jugular vein is cut to cut off oxygen to the brain and pain receptors.
An ACI spokeswoman couldn't say how much the Halal food will cost.

Sharjah society backs halal food event

Sharjah Cooperative Society (SCS), a provider of quality foodstuff at competitive prices, has teamed up with Expo Centre Sharjah for an upcoming international exhibition of halal-certified food products.
The first edition of Halal Food Middle East will be held at Expo Centre Sharjah from December 10 to 12 and will aim to tap into the $2.77 trillion international halal food industry.
The show, which is held under the patronage of Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah and Supreme Council Member, has the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry, apart from several leading retailers, food producers and dealers.
“Preparations are under way to make the inaugural Halal Food ME a highly successful trade show. We launched the show globally during the eighth Malaysia International Halal Showcase (Mihas) in Kuala Lumpur and we will promote it globally. We just finished a promotional tour of China and will now be heading to Thailand,” said Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, director-general of Expo Centre Sharjah.
“The support and participation of Sharjah Cooperative Society will add more credence and strengthen the value proposition of Halal Food ME.”
“Sharjah Cooperative Society has a vital role in providing Halal-certified food products to Sharjah and the Northern Emirates,” Al Midfa added.
Halal Food ME is positioned as the most comprehensive show of its kind in the region, featuring Shariah-compliant food and beverages, bakery and confectionaries, broth products and food ingredients.

Indonesia Accepts Jakim Halal Certification - Mustapa

The Indonesian government has accepted the Halal logo and certificate issued by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), said International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed. He said the development brought relief to producers of Malaysian Halal products who are facing difficulties penetrating the Indonesian market due to Halal certification. He said the matter was confirmed at an informal meeting of the ministers for religious affairs of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore (MABIMS) in May.

Saffron Road Announces More Products and Wider Retail Availability for Ramadan

Though only in its second year, American Halal Company, Inc.’s brand, Saffron Road, has already established itself as an innovator in addressing the unmet needs of the American Muslim consumer market. In preparation for the month-long Islamic holiday, Ramadan, Saffron Road has significantly augmented its product lines and dramatically expanded its retail distribution nationally to better serve its Halal consumers. In less than two years, Saffron Road has gone from four initial Halal products at inception, to over 30 Halal products sold nationally today.
Saffron Road has several new products ideal for Ramadan, including new World Cuisine Simmer Sauces, frozen phyllo appetizers (a healthier alternative to deep fried samosas for iftars), a family-sized portion of Chicken Tikka Masala and Broths. The entire assortment of Saffron Road products will be on sale in over 5,000 stores during Ramadan including Whole Foods Market (in mid-July), Kroger (during August), Publix (during August), Fairway, H.E.B and Central Market (during August), Gelson’s and Sprouts (during July) and most independent stores where Saffron Road is carried (during July). The Saffron Road team hopes the increased retail availability paired with targeted promotions during Ramadan will incentivize Muslim shoppers to go in their local stores to purchase Saffron Road’s Halal products for festive gatherings during Ramadan, including iftars or the daily traditional breaking of the fasts at sundown.