China's ASEAN Halal Centre Uses Marditech Expertise

From Rohani Ibrahim CHENGDU (CHINA), May 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob Wednesday launched the Suining ASEAN Halal Technology and Trade Centre (SAHTTC) at Suining, 150 km from Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan Province. The centre will be operated by Madi Longji Qingzhen (MLQ) Certification and Technical Services (Suining) Co Ltd, a joint venture between two Malaysian companies -- MADI Longji Qingzhen (MLQ) System International Sdn Bhd and MB Longji Holdings Sdn Bhd. The MLQ Halal Certification process will strictly follow the Malaysian Standard Guideline (MS 1500 2009) with a technical team comprising Halal specialists from Marditech Corporation Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Malaysia Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI). Ismail Sabri in his speech said China is a huge market and the opportunity to be part of the country's Halal certification framework, beginning with Suining city and Sichuan province, presents an immense prospect. "These efforts in Suining City focusing on a halal hub and halal certification service would further open doors for Malaysian investors to produce halal products for China and the global market," he added. Ismail Sabri said the key to playing this pivotal role is to be able to latch into the halal product value chain, transcending borders and regions. SAHTTC is part of China's long-term plan to transform Suining into a Halal Industy Corridor in the growing China Suining ASEAN City. Marditech Corporation Group Chief Executive Officer Anas Ahmad Nasaruddin said the halal verification lab costs almost US$137,234 (RM500,000). Its Associate Consultant Wan Johari Wan Daud in his presentation at the launch said SAHTTC would be the body responsible for setting up policies and standards for issuing halal certificates to all food and non-food products manufactured in Suining as well as the whole of China. "SAHTTC also issues halal certificates for products to be exported outside China. The halal certificate and logo can be displayed on the company's labels, letterheads, boxes and premises. "The halal certificate and logo are valid for one year, and submissions for renewal need to be done not later than three months before the expiry date," he said. Besides food, products needing halal certification by SAHTTC could include those in the services sector such as financial services, transport and logistics, stores and warehouses and restaurants, while the non-food sector includes leather-based shoes, handbags, fertilisers, animal feed, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Ismail Sabri later visited the halal verification laboratory and the West China Modern Logistic Inland Port in China Suining ASEAN City. The minister is on a nine-day working visit to China from May 23 to 31 to promote Malaysian halal products in Xi'an, Chengdu, Suining, Fujian, Shenzen and Hong Kong. -- BERNAMA