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Tuesday May 13, 10:50 AM
Malaysia's Halal Standard Recognised Globally: PMKUALA LUMPUR, May 13 Asia Pulse - Malaysia's halal standards, which are recognised globally and even in non-Muslim countries, can be used as a global benchmark and thus help bring about standardisation in halal certification, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Monday. "MNCs (multinational companies) are accepting our certificate. It is not something new. It is not something that we just started yesterday or two years ago. What we are doing today is to respond to the need for world standard integrity. It can be utilised by many countries now issuing separate halal certificates," he told reporters after delivering the keynote address at the World Halal Forum 2008 here.
The International Halal Integrity Alliance (IHI Alliance) certainly will be the governing body as it has the authority to endorse the validity and integrity of the Malaysian halal certificates, Abdullah pointed out. IHI Alliance, a non-profit body, has been formed through resolutions adopted at the two previous World Halal Forums in 2006 and 2007 to ensure integrity throughout the entire halal supply chain by enhancing and harmonising halal standards and certification at the global level. Abdullah said the Malaysian halal certification provided by the Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) represents the highest standards and is recognised by international bodies such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission of the United Nations. The Prime Minister said he had been informed that 40 companies are "lining up" to get the halal certification from HDC. Colgate Palmolive Thailand is the first recipient of HDC's certification. HDC provides local as well as global certification services on behalf of the Islamic development Department (JAKIM), using the existing Malaysian halal logo. Abdullah noted that the halal industry, currently valued at about US$2.3 trillion, has huge potential to be developed. "This is the industry that Malaysia would like to grow, attracting investors. I would say the potential is enormous," he added. Abdullah said although there are about 1.8 billion Muslims throughout the world, non-Muslim countries are the primary beneficiaries of the halal industry. "They (non-Muslim countries) are the biggest participants. They started even earlier than us. Of course it was never known then as what is today called the halal industry," he said. In view of the latest developments in the global economy, Abdullah said it is imperative that Muslim countries jointly develop the potential of the halal industry. This, he felt, should go beyond meat-based products to include not just agriculture and food industries but also medicine, personal care products and Islamic financial services. (BERNAMA-OANA)
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