KUALA LUMPUR, June 8: ASEAN must have mutual agreement which will lead to having a standard halal certification in order to facilitate halal trade within the region.
Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dzulkifli Mahmud said the ASEAN countries are currently in discussions to create a uniformity on the halal certification.
“The Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) is still in talks with its ASEAN counterparts on the issue.
“We hope they will be able to reach an agreement soon,” he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Malaysian halal certification talks with Jakim, organised by Bumiputera Manufacturers and Services Industry Association of Malaysia (PPIPBM) here today.
Dzulkifli said the uniformity in ASEAN halal certification would not only allow a smooth flow of halal trade among member states but it could also be adopted by the non-ASEAN countries.
On another note, Dzulkifli said Matrade hoped Jakim would expedite the process of obtaining halal certification by local entrepreneurs to facilitate the promotion of their products overseas.
“We want to promote our local products at the international level as soon as possible and by having the halal certification attached to the products, it will increase their competitiveness,” he said.
