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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Regulating the sacred: why the US Halal Food Industry needs better oversight

For many Muslims, adherence to Islamic dietary laws, known as halal, is an intrinsic part of their everyday lives. Even those who are relatively lax with other rituals of the faith tend to adhere to halal. But a spate of scandals involving halal meat – first in Europe and now in the US – threatens the reliability of the industry and highlights the need for improved oversight.

There are 1.6 billion Muslims around the world who collectively support a market for halal foods that is currently valued at more than US$1 trillion. The demand for halal products from countries like the US is certain to grow because a large number of Muslim-majority countries do not have enough agriculture and livestock resources to feed their booming populations. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the other Gulf Cooperation Council countries, for example, are expected to import US$53 billion of halal food by 2020.

The superior quality of its products has made the US a leader in the global market for food prepared by Islamic standards. But increasingly it is facing stiff competition from both established and emerging players like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Brazil and Uruguay. In order to maintain its competitive edge, the US needs to bolster its halal-assurance mechanisms. This is necessary not only for the export market but also to instill confidence among the millions of domestic halal consumers in America.

The Midamar controversy

Last month, Bill Aossey Jr, founder of Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Midamar Corp, was indicted on 19 felony counts for allegedly shipping mis-branded meat to Indonesia and Malaysia from 2007 to 2010. He is accused of making false statements on export certificates and committing wire and money fraud. Indonesia and Malaysia have strict halal import regulations that require that the meat be processed only at their approved slaughterhouses. Aossey Jr has been accused of shipping beef from a Minnesota plant that had no such approval from the two importing countries.

Midamar insists that it was a minor labeling issue and that the meat it shipped was halal. Its lawyer criticized the government for initially accusing the company of not being compliant with halal rules but later retracting that allegation. He also accused the government of ‘improperly trying to define halal standards’. Defining what is halal or not should be left to the Muslim faithful without governmental interference, he appears to be saying.

The controversy surrounding Midamar is emblematic of the issues plaguing the industry. Unlike the Kosher food sector, there is no widely accepted golden halal standard in the US or even internationally. Despite some initiatives taken by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a universal standard has yet to emerge. While all Muslims agree on the fundamentals of Islamic dietary laws, as mentioned in the Quran, there are significant disagreements when it comes to the details.

Unlike kosher, there is no universally recognized standard for proper halal food preparation. But there are a few minimal consumer expectations. Reuters

Click to enlarge

Mechanical versus manual slaughter

Some of the contentious issues include: the permissibility of stunning an animal, mechanical versus manual slaughter, vertical versus horizontal cut, permissibility of minute quantities of alcohol as processing agents, and the list goes on. Adding a further dimension of complexity is the growing awareness among Muslims that the food they consume should not only be halal but also ethical. Proponents of this movement highlight issues such as the humane treatment of animals and the use of genetically modified organisms.

As a result of this lack of consensus, the definition of halal can be as expansive or as restrictive as one wants it to be. This obviously poses a problem for food manufacturers frustrated by the diversity of opinion and unable to adhere to a set standard. But despite the disagreements, the average Muslim consumer has come to expect some basic standards. At a minimum, halal signifies that the permissible animal or bird has been slaughtered by a Muslim; that it is alive at the time of the slaughter; that a ritual blessing is invoked; and that the blood is completely drained out.

But this diversity of definitions creates a large loophole for fraud. Businesses and individuals have charged premium fees for generic meats they incorrectly labeled halal. Several private halal certifiers do provide some oversight of the industry but that has proven to be inadequate. The fact that there are no regulations governing the certifiers means that anyone can claim to be one. This has led to the mushrooming of scores of “certifiers” with little or no religious or technical expertise. A related problem is that of self-certification by the companies. This essentially makes the whole exercise redundant as then there is no third-party oversight.

Fragmented and haphazard

The US government’s regulation of what constitutes halal works in a fragmented and haphazard manner. The Department of Agriculture oversees federally regulated plants and also inspects exporters to ensure that they meet the importing country requirements. Since 2000, eight states have also enacted their own halal consumer protection legislation similar to the ones that were designed for kosher consumers. But the scope of these laws is often vague and poorly implemented. Cutbacks in the public sector has led to an acute shortage of inspectors, making them effectively toothless. But there have been rare cases when the authorities did crack down on those indulging in fraud. The Orange County District Attorney, for instance, obtained a US$527,000 settlement in 2011 from a business which was fraudulently selling selling generic meat as halal.

In order to protect both the consumers and the reputation of the industry, it is vital that a holistic approach be adopted involving all stakeholders. There are obvious limitations to governmental involvement due to the separation of church and state principle. But it can certainly improve transparency and consumer information by mandating that anyone selling a product as halal should back up that claim. The disclosure requirements of New York’s Halal Food Act of 2005  if strictly implemented, which they are currently not, could serve as a good model. The government can also regulate the certifiers by imposing a minimum set of standards including qualifications and avoidance of conflict of interest.

Bureaucratization and professionalization of the halal certifiers at a minimum will greatly improve reliability – as it has in the kosher industry – if not completely eliminate fraud. A transparent and reliable American halal industry is good not only for consumers but also for businesses.

Source:http://theconversation.com/regulating-the-sacred-why-the-us-halal-food-industry-needs-better-oversight-34108

What's the big fuss about Halal certification?

Increased trade with the Middle East and South East Asia means Halal certification is a booming business in Australia.

The sector is projected to be worth $1.6 trillion worldwide by 2050, and Australian food exporters are racing to get into the market.

I think Australia is quite proud of its ability to produce Halal meat to international requirements, while doing it in a humane way.

JON CONDON, JOURNALIST

Halal food has been prepared according to Islamic law, and is free from pork products, alcohol and certain other ingredients. A variety of Islamic groups are involved in Halal certification, with companies who wish their products to carry a Halal label paying fees for inspection and certification.

According to beef industry journalist Jon Condon, Halal certification is widespread in Australia and can be a big money earner for meat processors.

'What it means is when the various body parts are divided up it gives those export meat works the flexibility to sell certain items, including meat cuts and offal, into Halal markets.'

'In some cases, it can be the highest paying markets, so it's all part of finding the optimum market for each individual item.'

Mr Condon says Australia has a good reputation in terms of its ability to meet Halal requirements.

'We are able to sell Halal certified products into the Middle East, South East Asia and other communities around the world.'

'I think Australia is quite proud of its ability to produce Halal meat to international requirements, while doing it in a humane way.'

This certification process has angered a small number of consumers, however. Kirralie Smith is the founder of Halal Choices and does not support Halal labelling. Ms Smith and other anti-Halal activists claim certification fees are being directed to mosques which aim to impose Sharia law in Australia. She says her objections are not about racism, however.

'There are companies wanting to make a lot of money out of it,' says Ms Smith.

'A lot of these companies are just paying the certification because they don't want the hassle.'

Dr Muhammad Khan, the CEO of Halal Australia, says there is nothing wrong with money from Halal certification going to mosques.

'It is absolutely not necessary to talk about this subject matter,' he says.

'Don't [Kosher certification organizations] fund their own synagogues? Why can't the Islamic certification body give donations to mosque projects?'

Mr Khan says accusations of secrecy are misguided, and the Halal certification process is helping the Australian economy grow.

IMAGE: VARIOUS HALAL CERTIFICATION LABELS

The Byron Bay Cookie Company, which has been certified Halal for 10 years, recently became the target of anti-Halal campaigners, who objected to the company's Anzac biscuits carrying the Halal label.

'It hasn't been easy, we've had a lot of calls and emails that have been quite aggressive where we have had to ask the police to step in,' the company's CEO, Keith Byrne, told ABC News.

'We as an iconic brand have been targeted but ultimately if people look at any major producer will typically have Halal depending on the countries they supply too.'

Like meat processors who say Halal is no different to certification for grain-fed and grass-fed cattle, Mr Byrne compares Halal to gluten-free labelling.

'The Halal company that certifies us is based in Sydney, they come and they audit us and then they go away again, they don't bless our foods, they don't bless our site, there's no religious context to it, they check our hygiene and they check that there's no alcohol there.'

What is Halal?

Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or permitted. In reference to food, it is the dietary standard, as prescribed in the Koran.

By official definition, Halal foods are those that are:

1. Free from any component that Muslims are prohibited from consuming according to Islamic law.

2. Processed, made, produced, manufactured and/or stored using utensils, equipment and/or machinery that have been cleansed according to Islamic law.

All foods are considered Halal except the following:

-Alcoholic drinks and intoxicants

-Non-Halal animal fat

-Enzymes (microbial enzymes are permissible)

-Gelatin from non-Halal source (fish gelatin is Halal)

-L-cysteine (if from human hair)

-Lard

-Lipase (only animal lipase need be avoided)

-Non-Halal animal shortening

-Pork products

-Unspecified meat broth

-Rennet (All forms should be avoided except for plant, microbial and synthetic rennet, as well as rennet obtained from Halal slaughtered animals)

-Stock (mixed species broth or meat stock)

-Tallow (non-Halal species)

-Carnivorous animals, birds of prey and certain other animals

-Foods contaminated with any of the above products

Source: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/bushtelegraph/halal/5843904

Organic Halal Meats Get Muslims Thinking About What It Really Means To Eat Religiously

The Prophet Muhammad advised his followers to treat animals with kindness and, if needed, kill them mercifully for food. And he didn’t mince words.

“Whoever kills a sparrow or anything bigger than that without a just cause, Allah will hold him accountable on the Day of Judgment,” the Prophet reportedly said.

Remembering these instructions, New York farmer Zaid Kurdieh says much of the meat that brands itself as halal, or religiously permissible, is nothing but a sham.

For Kurdieh, if it’s not organic, it’s not halal.

“Most people associate halal with slaughter. But that’s just the end of the process,“ the 50-year-old Norwich farmer told the Huffington Post. “All animals have a right to live to a certain age, to eat good food, get good treatment. All of those things constitute halal.”

The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, a halal certification organization, estimates that the U.S. halal market is worth at least $20 billion. And the industry is expected to grow, the AP reports.

Muslims like Kurdieh are now thinking deeply about how the recommendations the Prophet gave his followers centuries ago fit in with today’s fast-paced, global food markets.

For meat to be halal, animals are required to be killed by hand using a sharp knife, with a single slash to the throat. The person doing the killing should ideally be a Muslim who utters God’s name as the animal exhales its last breath. The practice is intended to make sure the creatures die swiftly and without much pain.

Death matters, of course. But quality of life matters, too.

“I don’t want to eat animals that were systematically abused their whole lives," Nuri Friedlander, a Muslim chaplain at Harvard University, told the Daily Beast. "From a spiritual practice, I didn’t want to get that into my body."

That's why some Muslims are beginning to look past the halal label and examine where exactly their meat is coming from.

Kurdieh is the managing owner of Norwich Meadows Farm, a small, certified organic company that raises chicken and turkey, while sourcing their lamb and beef from trusted local family farms. None of their animals are given growth hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified foods crammed with animal byproducts. The creatures are raised outdoors and grass-fed, given the space to roam and grow at their own pace.

“When you take an animal out of the wild, you’re responsible for its eating, its drinking, whatever it needs,” Kurdieh said. “It’s a tenet of our religion.”

This philosophy is maintained by Honest Chops, a halal butcher shop in New York City that cuts up hand-slaughtered, ethically-raised beef and chicken.

Along with the word halal, Chops co-founder Imam Khalid Latif says the Koran uses the word “tayyib” when it talks about what kinds of foods Muslims should eat. Tayyib means something that is pure or clean.

“There’s a lot of unhygienic, unethical practices taking place,” Latif told the Huffington Post. “Animals are being fed excrements and processed carcasses of their own species. They’re lodged on top of each other with no room to walk. It’s disgusting and inhumane.”

Honest Chops has pledged an “Honest to God Guarantee” that its meats are grass-fed and raised in a way that conforms to Islam’s guidelines. They’ve also promised to pay workers “dignified” wages and give back to the community.

During this year’s Eid Al Adha holiday, which falls on Oct. 4, Honest Chops launched an Udhiya/Qurbani campaign. For Eid, Muslims are encouraged to offer an animal as a sacrifice in remembrance of God’s mercy towards Abraham, then offer portions of the meat to charity.

Latif said that the 2014 campaign will help feed 200 local families in need.

But conscious eating comes with a price. Kurdieh said his customers often experience “sticker shock” when they see the prices of his meats.

“A pound of chicken at the green markets is $7, while they’re buying industrial chicken at $1.50,” the farmer said. “A lot of education has to happen before this becomes a widespread movement.”

For Latif, change starts with understanding that worship happens in a “framework of selflessness.”

“People have to understand that being Muslim isn’t something that just benefits them, but also brings benefit to the society around them,” Latif said. “It’s understanding that you have something to give back.”

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/04/organic-halal-meat_n_5924144.html

Australian firms interested in Pak Halal Food Market

LAHORE - High Commissioner Designate to Australia, Naela Chohan has said that Australian companies are interested in investing in the Halal food market and want to enter the Middle Eastern region through Pakistan. It will benefit both the countries and Pakistan will be able to attract more countries for Halal food processing.

She was talking to Punjab Board of Investment & Trade (PBIT) high-ups during her visit to PBIT where she was welcomed by Chief Executive Officer, Mohammad Ilyas Ghauri. On this occasion, she was also given a presentation on the core functions and working of PBIT and the priority sectors that are in focus in Punjab. The High Commissioner Designate said that she will be working on image building of Pakistan, mainly, trade and export promotion of Pakistan to Australia. CEO PBIT extended PBIT’s full support and services to Mrs Naela Chohan in facilitating the Halal Food Exhibition in Pakistan to attract Australian companies. Industrialists from Sialkot Chambers of Commerce & Industry briefed Mrs Chohan about the potential of exporting sports and surgical goods to Australia. The meeting ended with the exchange of souvenirs.
APP adds from Karachi: “A lack of interest, information and prevalence of stereotypes about Russia have kept Pakistani exporters away from entering Russian market,” said chairman of Pakistan-Russian Business Council of FPCCI, Muhammad Farooq Afzal.
The Russian Government’s decision to ban fruit, vegetable, meat, fish, milk and dairy products from United States of America, European Union, Australia, Canada and other countries that have imposed sanctions on Moscow offers a great opportunity for Pakistani exporters to enter Russian food market.
In the wake of the imposed sanctions on Russia in late 1998, the resultant financial crisis and Russian debt default also, Pakistan could have become a major exporter of kinnow, mango, potatoes, rice, processed food and fruit juices there, Chairman, Pakistan-Russian Business Council of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said in a statement here on Friday.
The Chairman, Pakistan-Russian BC, mentioned that it was precisely around that time Europeans, Americans and even Chinese moved back and captured the Russian market. He said that a visit to any supermarket in a Russian city will show how much the country depends on imported food. It would be very difficult for one to find anything of Pakistani origin except kinnow and certain specie of rice.
The PRBC can help Pakistani exporters of food products in finding space in Russian market. Many members of PRBC in the Russian capital have their counterparts and have a great degree of expertise about the complex market.
For Pakistani food products to do well in Russia, a combination of good marketing and attractive packaging is a must along with quality products.
PRBC has worked out a strategy to export 8 items that Russia usually buys from the US and European Union. These include fruit, vegetable, sports items, sports garments, leather garments and pharmaceutical and textiles etc, said M. Farooq Afzal.
Russia imports food products from UK, USA and EU worth dollars 10 billion and the Asian countries especially Indian firms are rushing towards Russian market to fill the gap, he said.
He suggested to Pakistan food exporters to fully participate in Russian food exhibitions in major cities of that country coupled with a combination of good marketing and attractive packaging along with quality products.

Source: http://nation.com.pk/business/23-Aug-2014/australian-firms-interested-in-pak-halal-food-market

Halal Meat May Be Processed Differently, But Is it Safer?

Many Muslims have migrated from their ancestral homes in North Africa and Asia to Europe and North America. These emigrants have brought their distinctive cultures and culinary traditions with them. They've also brought their dietary laws, which strictly regulates the slaughter and processing of meat.

Food processed in concordance with Muslim dietary laws is called Halal. Halal is an Arabic word that means "permissible." Although traditionally, meat slaughtered under Jewish kosher practices were consumable by Muslims, most authorities today only accept meat slaughtered by a method called "zabiha."

Zabiha imposes many requirements. For example, the animal must be healthy and must not be a forbidden species, the slaughterer must be a sane adult Muslim and the animal must be facing Ka'aba (Mecca). The slaughter itself is preceded by the words "Allah-o-Akbar' (God is Great)." A very sharp knife must be used to prevent undue suffering. Failing to adhere to any requirements of zabiha renders the slaughtered animal "Haram" (forbidden).

Contrary to the claims of animal rights activists, the slaughtering process is specifically designed to minimize the animals' pain, whereas commercial methods sometimes grievously injure the animal while leaving it alive.

Meat is central to many dishes originating in Muslim countries. One survey found that Muslims constitute 5 per cent of the British population but consume around 20 per cent of the total meat purchased in the country. In order to satisfy this demand, the food industry caters to the needs of their Muslim customers.

Today, halal meat is largely produced in commercial slaughterhouses staffed by specially trained Muslim workers who conduct the actual slaughter and supervise the subsequent processing. The animal must be healthy so the workers are trained to identify diseases that would render the animal unclean. Most facilities also have government inspectors on the line so the product still meets government standards.

But the focus of halal is on ensuring spiritual purity rather than science-based cleanliness, so buying halal food does not guarantee your food will be safe. Last year a Halal food processor in British Columbia was charged with several counts of knowingly selling food unfit for human consumption and a similar case was reported in Texas.

Fortunately, such cases are rare and problems also occur with non-halal products. Robert Singleton, a co-owner of, Rancho Feeding Corp, a California slaughterhouse, plead guilty yesterday to processing cattle infected with skin cancer. His deal has him working with prosecutors against his co-accused in the case. Workers at the plant allegedly took advantage of inspectors' lunch breaks to process diseased animals, going so far as to replace disfigured heads with those of healthy animals to hide their crime. This fiasco resulted in the recall of a staggering 8.7-million pounds of beef.

The case of Rancho Feeding Corp. highlights why halal food is safer. For the owners of Rancho, the opportunity to sneak diseased meat down the line was just too tempting to resist. In a federally regulated Halal facility, there would have been ritual slaughterers in addition to the government inspectors so, with extra pairs of eyes watching the line it would have been much harder to commit this fraud. Halal certification does not mean that the food is free from harmful microbes, extraneous materials, or chemical contamination. We need modern science-based food safety programs to prevent these types of hazards but purchasing halal products ensures that there is an extra layer of oversight that can effectively prevent food fraud and generally results in a closer examination of the food that ends up on our plates to ensure that it is safe to eat.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/steven-burton/halal-meat-processing_b_5716361.html

Halal meat row: Ministers will consider labelling if there is 'widespread demand'

Ministers say they will consider compulsory labelling for halal meat if there is 'widespread demand' and it is done across Europe

Pizza Express says it serves only halal chicken at its restaurants

Compulsory labelling of halal meat could be supported by the government if it is enforced by the European Union, a minister has said.

Jenny Willott, a Liberal Democrat minister, said the government will consider introducing a ban if a European study finds that there is "widespread demand" from customers.

Her comments came after Philip Davies, a Conservative MP, tabled an amendment in the Commons for compulsory labelling of meat. His amendment was defeated by 281 votes to 17.

The vote came after disclosures that diners have been unknowingly served halal chicken in Pizza Express and other restaurants. Halal meat is also served at a series of other restaurants and food outlets, as well as in schools and restaurants.

Mrs Willott said that while the government is not prepared to introduce compulsory labelling "at this stage", it could do so in future.

She said: "If there is to be compulsory labelling it would be best done at a European level, which would be best for consumers and also ensure that we do not put our food industry at a competitive disadvantage as well.

"My hon friend said there is widespread customer demand. There is currently an EU study being undertaken on this issue, looking precisely at that question. We are waiting with interest for that study to be published so that we can have full information on what consumers want and we will then review all of our options at that point."

Mr Davies, who worked at Asda for 12 years, said supermarkets are reluctant to label halal meat because they find it "inconvenient", citing figures showing that while Muslim's make up a small proportion of the population a quarter of meat sold in Britain is halal.

He also quoted recent comments by Dr Taj Harjey, of the Muslim Educational Centre in Oxford, who said halal meat is "covert religious extremism and creeping Islamic fundamentalism making its way into Britain by the back door".

He said: "As a strong believer in freedom of choice, I think one of the fundamental rights of the consumer is to know what they're purchasing.

"And when I spent 12 years before I entered this House working for Asda, some of the supermarkets are reluctant to do anything about it.

"And the reason why, quite simply, is because it's very inconvenient for them to go through the food chain to actually provide the labelling.

"It's not about what's most convenient for them. I don't care about that. They should be delivering what their customers want and there's no doubt this is what customers want to see."

The vote came after the British Veterinary Association warned that labelling meat as halal or kosher could cause confusion and inflame prejudice.

The BVA appealed instead for consumers to be informed whether or not animals had been stunned before being killed by whatever method, insisting the controversy had nothing to do with religion.

In an open letter to the three main party leaders, Robin Hargreaves, President of the BVA, said: "Recent media coverage has also revealed a very strong feeling amongst the general public for better labelling about the provenance of food they are buying and eating. We very much hope you will listen to this sentiment and take forward the debate about clearer food labelling."

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/food/10828907/Halal-meat-row-Ministers-will-consider-labelling-if-there-is-widespread-demand.html

Buffalo meat plan to boost Halal Industry

LAHORE  - Vice Chancellor of University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Prof Talat Naseer Pasha, has said that work on a buffalo meat plan is in progress under which country’s Halal meat will be introduced at high level to boost to meat farming.
Talking to APP here on Sunday, he said the growth rate of Halal meat export last year was 34 percent which could be raised to 55 percent which was the highest growth rate in any field of export.
He said that there was no any proper farming for meat in the country and animals were being exported after slaughtering without making pieces. Under the buffalo meat plan, quality Halal meat of calves would be presented at an exhibition to be held next month. All diplomats and businessmen will be invited to the exhibition planned by Punjab Halal Development Agency and UVAS, he added. The financial needs of the plan are being fulfilled by the USAID.
Last year, Pakistan exported red meat worth US$ 120 million which might be increased as the Halal export meat industry is sharply growing in the world, he added.
Responding to a question, he said that establishment of an authentication lab in the country was the need of the hour as worldwide demand for Halal products was sharply increasing.
He said the Halal industry was rapidly growing in the world as its trade volume was $.3 trillion and its 80 percent share was with non-Muslim states.
There is great potential in Pakistan to a take sizeable share in the trade, he added.
He said that setting up of Halal Regulatory Authority which was under consideration by the ministry concerned would give our Halal products an important marketing feature.
Prof. Pasha said that Middle East countries and Iran were big importers of Halal meat and Pakistan being a Muslim country in the region was in a position to export Halal meat to them at low costs as compared to European countries.
He said that UVAS was providing certification facilities thorough its international standard lab which had been accreditation by WHO.

Source: http://www.nation.com.pk/business/21-Apr-2014/buffalo-meat-plan-to-boost-halal-industry

David Cameron says halal meat will be protected as long as he Prime Minister

David Cameron has said he will keep Halal meat “safe in Britain” and would never impose restrictions on religious slaughter as long as he is Prime Minister.

He also said he was concern by “intolerance” towards Muslims in some parts of the UK, and pledged to “stamp out once and for all the intolerance that blights people's lives,” the Huffing-ton Post reported.

His comments, made during a speech to the Muslim News Awards for Excellence in London on Tuesday, mirror promises he made in Israel last month in regard to kosher meat.

He told the audience on Tuesday: "Really tackling Islam phobia means making absolutely sure that no Muslim is held back from living their life or reaching their goals, simply because of the faith they follow.

"Soon the food will arrive and you will all be able to eat. Let me make it absolutely clear, that while I am Prime Minister of this country, Halal is safe in Britain."

Last month, Denmark banned the slaughter of animals for food that are not stunned, therefore implicating kosher and Halal meat.

In response to the legislation, Britain’s top vet made a controversial call for the method to also be banned in the UK.

John Blackwell, president-elect of the British Veterinary Association, told The Times that the religious slaughter of poultry, sheep and cattle caused unnecessary suffering to animals.

But religious group defend the method, and maintain that animals are killed by a trained professional and lose consciousness within seconds.

Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/david-cameron-says-halal-meat-will-be-protected-as-long-as-he-prime-minister-9231187.html

Halal Soap

Penang halal expo from Friday

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang International Halal Exposition and Convention will be held from Friday to Sunday, here, for the fifth time.

State Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs committee chairman Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim said over 200 local and foreign companies would set up their booths at Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

"The halal market is an emerging industry worth billions of ringgit in the global market.

"The huge international market is a big opportunity for Malaysia trade exhibitors to showcase their products," said Malik.

He said a total of 266 booths would be put up at the concourse and main arena.

Malik said the international exhibitors would be from the Netherlands, Belgium, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Thailand.

He added that non-Muslim groups had been the main consumers in the halal industry. 

Source: NST

Muslims having problem in "halal meat" in US

Owner of the biggest halal slaughter facility said 60 percent of "halal" certified meat was not actually halal

NEW YORK - One of the most important questions for Muslims abroad is "halal meat" certificate and how they can trust them.

The need of "halal meat" for millions of Muslims in the US is met by many facilities.

The slaughter facilities are inspected by several certification bodies but there are also black sheep among them which send the certificate via internet.

Especially in New York's smallest and most densely populated neighborhood, Manhattan, you can buy "halal meat" phrased food on every corner. However, there are some questions about the hygienic conditions and whether the meat was slaughtered according to Islamic law.

Suleyman Duman, an official for Islamic services in Turkish Consulate General in New York told AA, "our people who live abroad must examine whether the meat they consume is halal slaughtered or not."

Duman said that a Muslim had to say the words "Bismillahi Allahu Akbar" before slaughtering the animal, and added that he had to cut its throat and let it bleed before using electroshock.

Ali Kucukkarca, the owner of the biggest halal slaughter facility in the east of the US, told AA that many institutions which gave a halal certificate were not reliable.

Kucukkarca said, "60 percent of the meat which is being sold with halal certificate in New York and New Jersey is not halal." Kucukkarca underlined that some Turkish butchers also sold meat which was not halal and noted, "one of the most reliable and biggest institutions giving "halal meat" certificate is 'Shari'ah Board of America'."

Kucukkarca reminded that the Jewish butchers were also checked by inspectors who handed out certificates. "But the inspectors, who check the Muslims do not visit their stores or control anything because the Muslim community do not make such a demand."

Source: Turkish Press

Jakim slams falsifying of halal logo on pictured beer can

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) today denied approving the use of the halal logo on alcoholic drinks as depicted on a beer can shown on Facebook and the Whatsapp application.

The department's Halal Hub director, Hakimah Mohd Yusoff in a statement said Jakim had lodged a report on the matter at the Putrajaya police station for investigation.

This followed complaints and information received from the public on the picture of the Carlsberg can of beer with the halal logo on it appearing on the social media.

"We stress here that Jakim has never issued the halal certification or approved the use of the halal logo by the company or on its products. In fact, other products produced at the same manufacturing plant would not be issued with the halal certification or logo even it these are not alcoholic drinks," Hakimah said.

She said action could be taken against any quarters under the Trade Description (Certification and Marking of Halal) Order 2011 for misuse of the halal logo.

"Jakim regards the display of the picture as ill-intended and an attempt to undermine the department's credibility as a body responsible for halal certification in Malaysia and which is recognised nationally and internationally.

"The action will also not only create negative perception of Jais but could also hurt religious sensitivities.

"Therefore, Jakim condemns the falsifying of the halal logo, whether deliberately or with the intention to provoke, which could also create polemic among the public on the matter," she added.

She hoped consumers would not be taken in by false news spread via the social websites by irresponsible quarters and that such misdeeds should stop.

Meanwhile, Putrajaya police chief, ACP Abdul Razak Abdul Majid, when contacted, confirmed having received the police report on the matter.-- BERNAMA

Source: www.nst.com.my

Jordan is promoting Islamic/Halal Tourism

Jordan has launched a campaign to attract tourists from Muslim countries to boost the domestic tourism sector, reported the al-Hayat newspaper.

“The board launched a campaign to promote Islamic tourism in Jordan and attract tourists from Muslim countries, especially from Malaysia and Indonesia, given that Jordan is a base and a gateway for holy Muslim and Christian shrines,” said Abdul Razaq Arabiyat, the managing director of the Jordan Tourism Board, in a released statement.

The campaign aims to boost the profile of religious sites in Jordan as an attraction for foreign tourists and seeks to promote religious tourism as “a main source of tourism revenues in the kingdom,” added Arabiyat.

A number of promotional programs have been adopted by the board to attract those Muslim tourists intending to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage, who then continue on with their religious tour by traveling to Jordan and Palestine.

“We’ve signed a number of agreements with tourism companies in Indonesia and Malaysia on visiting religious shrines in Jordan and Palestine… such as the site of the battles of Islamic conquests,” said Arabiyat.