Oman’s consumers call for halal law

MUSCAT // With international supermarket chains cropping up in the country during the last five years, Omani families have become suspicious of meat being sold in local markets and are urging the government to enforce laws that require retailers to label their products as halal or non-halal.

According to official statistics, Oman imports about 80 per cent of its meat and poultry products, either fresh from nearby countries such as India and Pakistan, or frozen meat from New Zealand and Australia.

Muslims are allowed to eat only meat or poultry slaughtered by a fellow Muslim with a knife using a single cut on the throat while reciting the name of God while doing it, according to Islamic law.

“We have beef or lamb from abroad sold here that we suspect the animals are not prepared according to the Islamic custom. The government must force retailers to put stickers to indicate which meat adheres to Islamic sharia to distinguish them from the rest,” Mahfoudh al Kharousy, 46, a computer engineer at the defence ministry, said.

Other consumers would like to see a total ban enforced on non-halal meat and poultry.