Stringent Halal Certification Process To Ensure Integrity

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- The halal certification process takes six months to one year because many steps and tests are needed to be done, said Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Mustapa Mohamed. "To ensure the product is halal, we have to be very precise in analysing the details. Other factors involved are time constraints, financial and the lack of manpower," he told a press conference after delivering a speech at the closing ceremony of the Briefing Session on Malaysia Halal System here on Wednesday. Mustapa said there are requests made by the foreign traders to simplify the process and reduce the duration by skipping some of the tests. "We must explain to them that the process must comply with the Syariah requirements to ensure its integrity. "Once consumers lose confidence in the halal status, sales and trade would be affected, thus, it is imperative to have an international halal standard that has the highest assurance of integrity," he added. Mustapa also said that the Briefing Session on Malaysia Halal System was held for the first time to discuss the issues and it involved a total participation of 24 foreign delegates who represented their business communities. "The objective of this programme is to give exposure to these delegates on the halal certification process, because we have received enquiries about the process by the foreign ambassadors during our pre-trade agreements and bilateral discussions," he said. On Halal business, Mustapa said it is good for exporters because those with halal certification would have a competitive advantage over other companies. "The global halal market in estimated to be worth US$2.3 trillion a year, with the halal food sector valued at an estimated US$693 billion annually," he said. To date, 57 halal certification bodies have been recognised in 33 countries throughout the world. The half-day briefing session was organised by MITI with the cooperation of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia and Standards Malaysia. -- BERNAMA