“The global standardization of Halal would improve the international trade because it would reduce costs and time to get the certifications”, 
explained Abdalla Abdelqader Al Maeeni, General Director of the Emirates Standardization Metrology Authority (ESMA), during a conference held last week in Madrid.
“Halal is not associated only to the Muslim world. It is a growth market, but it needs a solid growth. In order to achieve that, it needs internationally accepted standards that can make it easier to understand and so, easier to adapt by the companies”, explained Al Maeeni.
ESMA participated at the round table “The Global Halal Standardization”, held during ExpoHalal Spain 2015, also integrated by Mr. Abderrahim Taibi, General Director of IMANOR (the Moroccan Institute for Normalization).
Taibi highlighted that “it is the market who demands Halal certified products: it is a problem born in the non Islamic countries where demand is growing and there is not a tradition in Halal”.
However, Taibi and Al Maeeni acknowledged “the companies need to understand Halal in order to implement Halal”, because it is not only a matter of stamps on a product o service. To close his speech, IMANOR General Director, announced that Morocco will be able to certify ‘Halal friendly’ hotels next year aiming to boost this kind of tourism in his country.
In a second round table entitled “Why should we get a Halal certification? Proceedings and requirements” the members of the Spanish Instituto Halal explained that the Halal concept is wider than just the slaughter of an animal or the avoidance of alcohol or pig meat, and therefore, the Halal certification is actually a “technical-religious procedure”.
Most of the Spanish Halal products are currently exported because internal market is growing but still minor, with a Muslim population of about two million people. Certified Spanish companies exported in 2014 mainly to Algeria, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, France, Kuwait and Emirates.
ExpoHalal Spain is the first Halal exhibition held in Spain and one of the few existing in Europe. With more than 60 exhibitors from nine different countries and nearly 1.200 professional visitors from all over the world, this trade show is on its way to become the new Halal milestone. Ambar Connect, organizer of the trade show, announced a 2016 edition.
