Japan wants Malaysian Muslim tourists, but how much are travellers willing to bend for a halal experience?

AISHA Luthfi stares into the food display case at a Starbucks counter, scrunching her face as she tries to pick out lunch. All the labels are in Japanese, and though she speaks the language well enough, she can’t quite read it yet.

But after four months of living as a student in Tokyo, there are certain realities she has come to terms with – food being the biggest one.

“You can’t live here and expect to eat halal food all the time,” says the 18-year-old from Jakarta. “It’s just not possible. You can try, but most of the time you just have to make do.”

She points to one of the sandwiches and speaks to the staff in Japanese. “Pork!” he says, pointing to a ham and egg baguette. Then he picks up the plate right next to it with what looks like a turkey and cheese croissant. “No pork!” he assures her.

Minutes later, she’s munching down and talking about what it’s been like for a Muslim girl living in Japan on her own. To be fair, she says, she comes from what many would consider a liberal family in Indonesia. So when it comes to religious requirements like halal food, she’s inclined to make the best out of a tricky situation rather than segregate herself from social groups.

“I cook at home a lot because almost everything here has pork or is meat-based, like the broth for ramen noodles,” she says. “So when I go out with friends, I just don’t eat what they’re eating and order something else. But we’re all in the same restaurant and everything’s fine – as long as I’m okay with it, they’re okay with it.”

Aisha’s approach to food is something that the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) are hoping could segue into a bigger picture as they work together to shape and promote a halal tourism campaign for Malaysians visiting Japan.

On a recent four-day “technical visit” to Tokyo, Yokohama and Sendai, 25 travel agents, along with JNTO staff, several Matta delegates and media representatives, were shown how halal-friendly Japan could be – or at least how much effort they put into it.

Amidst halal tourism presentations and tourist attraction pitches – Tokyo Skytree, Disneyland, winter strawberries in Sagae City (it’s a huge deal in Japan) – there were lunches at Indian restaurants (Khazana in Minatomirai, Yokohama), dinners at Malaysian restaurants (Rasa Malaysia Cuisine in Ginza, Tokyo), and specially prepared seafood meals at various places. All of this was to show the agents and the media that Japan is a safe place for Muslims to eat and that the local hosts are happy to respect and accommodate their needs.

But the random reactions of some agents in the group point to a deeper challenge that could come from more conservative Muslim tourists in Japan.

“What’s in this dish,” asked one agent, in his late 40s, during one meal, as he poked into a bowl of chawanmushi (egg custard). “Is that chicken at the bottom? Is it halal?”

Unable to get a straight answer, he skipped the side dish but tucked into the rest of the vegetable tempura and sashimi mains on the table. Meanwhile, another agent opened up a cup of instant porridge brought from KL.

“You can’t come into someone’s home and expect that they have to follow everything you want,” says Shen Nordin, senior manager (outbound division) for Japan Travel Bureau (JTB). “There has to be give and take, otherwise you can’t eat in any restaurant in Japan because they all serve sake – and liquor is already not halal.”

“The thing is, we need to speak to travel agents in Japan and get them to understand what halal travellers want, and at the same time, we need to inform halal travellers of what they can and cannot get,” adds Ace Altair Travel executive director Vimala Devi, who understands travellers with special needs better than most.

Her agency coordinates travel groups for the disabled.

This halal need includes visits to mosques, of which there are few and far between in Japan. According to one list of “masjid in Japan” on the Internet, there are 12 mosques in Tokyo, including the oldest mosque in Japan, the Tokyo Camii in Shibuya-ku, which doubles up as the Turkish Culture Centre in the basement. But unlike in Malaysia, mosques in Japan are more likely to be privately-run, members-only prayer halls.

“Wow, so you can’t just walk in and pray?” said one surprised agent, admiring the gorgeous architecture of the mosque.

Apparently not, but a Japanese agent could arrange for a mosque visit in advance. (And while you’re on the road, certain hotels and restaurants will try to arrange places for you to pray, which is what one restaurant in Sendai did for the agents.)

According to one Japanese news report, the Muslim population numbers just under 100,000, and most of them aren’t Japanese. In fact, it’s thought that there are fewer than 1,000 Japanese Muslims in a country of 120 million people. So it’s a major challenge to ensure halal food and places for worship even for the locals.

Inevitably, by the end of the trip, the travel agents cared a little less about how exactly halal a place was, considering there was bacon right next to the waffles on the breakfast buffet line at the hotels. But there were also clearly labelled dishes marked halal, which were obviously catered for the Malaysian group, which goes to show just how good the Japanese are at hospitality – and how much they want our business.

According to statistics presented during one talk by JTB, there were 46.3 million outbound counts from Malaysia in 2011. The top destinations were Thailand, Indonesia, China, Brunei, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and Korea. The same research, however, stated “no proper statistics were conducted on Muslim preference for outbound destinations” but that “it’s widely known that Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Australia, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey remain popular.”

The data also claimed “for emerging desti­nations such as Japan, although Malaysians are known to favour Hokkaido, most Muslims centre about Kanto (Tokyo) and Kansai (Osaka)” and that “the upcoming AirAsia X flight to Chubu (Nagoya) sometime mid-year may also see some rise in the Muslim market.”

Shen Nordin highlighted that halal food in Japan covers Malaysian, Indonesian, northern Indian and Middle Eastern food, all of which are designated as fine dining cuisines “hence its high-selling price” and that “in contrast, Japanese food is cheaper.”

As for beverages, he told the conference “since the consumption of alcohol in Japan is high ... it is advisable that Muslim travellers understand this norm despite restaurants serving halal meals.” And as for mosques, he pointed out four facts: there are “limited number of mosques, some are restricted to members only, prior consent is required”, and it’s better to delay evening prayer times until you can get back to the hotel.

All this is vital information for halal travellers, travel agents pushing halal tourism and their Japanese counterparts, if the whole campaign is to really take off – and Japan has a lot riding on it. JNTO’s research shows that the number of Malaysian visitors to Japan has grown steadily over the last three years while tourism numbers from Singapore and Hong Kong have gradually declined.

According to JNTO manager Susan Ong, for the year ending in 2012, visitor arrivals from Malaysia to Japan set a record high of over 130,000, up almost 14% from the same period in 2010, fuelled by a growing middle class that can afford to travel and the launch of low-cost carrier routes to Japan.

The implementation of the multi-entry visa for Malaysians to Japan, since September 2012, has also affected a steady growth of visitor arrivals from Malaysia, said the statement. (A helpful hint when applying for your visa at the Embassy of Japan: be very clear with the consular staff which visas you want, and ask if you have the right forms for it.)

With so much at stake, it’s hardly surprising that JNTO and Matta have signed a memorandum of understanding on how they can make halal tourism a viable industry for both Malaysia and Japan.

“This collaboration is very timely as 2013 marks the 40th year of Asean-Japan friendship and cooperation. With the signing of MOU between JNTO and Matta, we hope to increase the number of visitors from Malaysia as Japan expects to receive one million tourists from Asean countries in 2013,” said JNTO executive director Motonari Adachi in a statement.

Matta president Dato Mohd Khalid Harun was equally effusive in his statement. “Matta hopes that with the MOU ... the travel and tourism industry will grow even faster, as we are now partners for mutual benefits.”

On their part, Japan really seems to be going for it. According to a report in The Mainichi, a halal food trade fair showcasing about 40 items of processed food, condiments and confectionary made in Japan according to Islamic guidelines was held in Fukuoka city in February, organised by the Nippon Asia Halal Association, and drawing about 20 exhibitors and 600 visitors.

One company, Inoue Spice, offered curry roux using mushroom and seaweed essence in place of beef or pork stock.

“It required a lot of effort to develop it,” company president Kazuto Inoue told The Mainichi. “But I was glad Indian and Ma­laysian guests said it was tasty.”

Another company that’s making a name for itself in halal tourism is the Miyako Kokusai travel agency based in Osaka. Company director Kazunari Kurosawa said he’d learned about halal food and worked with Japan Halal Business Association (which is approved by Malaysia’s Jakim Department of Islamic Advancement) officials to develop non-alcoholic, pork-free environments for halal visitors.

Meanwhile, JNTO has created an official halal guidebook for tourists, listing restaurants and places of worship in Japan. What’s obvious, however, is how little actual Japanese food is on the menu – the book is loaded with listings for Arabian, Iranian, Egyptian, Moroccan, Turkish, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian restaurants.

The book, titled Japan Travel Guide for Muslim Visitors, is being distributed to travel agents and their clients

Halal creates an opening for Thai firms in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR : Thai food makers are being urged to enter the Malaysian market to capitalise on the neighbouring country's vision of becoming a global hub for halal food.

Petch Chinabutr, director of Thailand's National Food Institute (NFI), said that despite a population of just 30 million, Malaysia has a high per-capita income compared with other countries in the 10-member Asean group, ranking only behind Singapore and Brunei.

"Furthermore, the Malaysian government has a policy to turn the country into a global hub of halal products, and the country also has established free-trade deals with many partners, especially in the European Union, so this is a good opportunity for Thai businesses to penetrate this market," he said.

His comments were made on the sidelines of the 10th Malaysia International Halal Showcase. The NFI brought 10 Thai companies to showcase their halal-certified products at the event.

Ugrid Chitcharoentham, assistant export manager of General Candy Co, the maker of Heartbeat candy, said most of General's confectionery, fruit snacks and jelly are certified halal, with two more items on the way.

General exports 70% of what it makes, half of which goes to South Africa, Dubai, Qatar, Yemen, Kuwait and Jordan. The company has begun shipping to Malaysia as well.

General makes some products especially for the Middle East markets, as some countries in the region have laws banning the use of food colouring.

Alak Pramernchamaen, director of Siamsurplus Co, has expressed interest in exporting her crispy fried salmon products to Malaysia since last year.

Under the brand SeaRun, the product is sold in 700 7-Eleven stores in the southern region of Thailand. Still, 70% of production goes to mom-and-pop stores and street vendors.

This year, the company expects to produce 200,000 packets a month, up from 100,000 a month last year, 50,000 in 2011 and 20,000 the year before.

Sarif Lohhama, manager of Budu Yiseng (Saiburi Pattani) Ltd, sends most of his instant khao yam sets to Malaysia.

Called nasi kerabu in Malaysia, khao yam consists of rice, budu fish sauce and vegetables.

The company, which has made and exported food for five years, ships 20% of its production to Malaysia, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Revenue per year is 45 million baht, with 14 million baht in profit.

Last year, Malaysia was Thailand's sixth-biggest export destination and eighth-biggest import source. Exports to Malaysia totalled 33.7 billion baht, with imports reaching 14 billion baht.

Halal products granted trade body licence

Sunday, April 14, 2013 - Karachi—The Ministry of Commerce, has granted license to ‘Halal Products & Services Association of Pakistan’ (HAP) as a trade body. HAP is the ‘1st’ and only trade association in Pakistan that is officially registered and authorized to represent the Pakistani Halal products & Services sectors, and find solutions to the existing issues for promotion of Halal trade.

HAP member companies are Manufacturers, Producers, Exporters, Traders, Importers, CBs and Service providers engaged in Halal products and services business in Pakistan. HAP will cover all type of Halal Consumables (Food, Confectionery, Dairy, Agro, Ingredients, Additives, Supplements, Beverages) and Non-Consumables including, but not limited to, Pharmaceuticals, Neutraceuticals, Cosmetics, Personal care, Herbal, Soaps, Leather, Animal Feed as well as Services such as Islamic banking, Takaful, Supply Chain, Hospitality, Tourism, Food services, Certification, Testing, Consultants, Shariah Advisors, Facilitators, etc..

Halal Products & Services Association of Pakistan Mission Statement is to make Halal industry a multi billion dollar export sector in Pakistan & establish Pakistan as the Regional Halal Hub. HAP Objectives are to Protect the interests of its members & provide an effective forum for negotiations with the government agencies; Solicit maximum subsidies for its members through effective interaction with relevant authorities and institutions for Halal certification, product testing, export freight, export marketing, import duties & taxes and for setting up Halal industries; Act as an international trade portal to facilitate exporters of Halal products & services; Identify & Promote Halal sector investment opportunities in Pakistan to facilitate JVs.

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.