Halal board seeks to ensure enforcement of uniform rules

ZAMBOANGA CITY — The Philippine Halal Accreditation Board has
urged halal-certifying bodies to secure accreditation from it in order
to make sure that proper standards are enforced.

Aleem Walid Abubakar, the board’s chairman, said they are
targeting at least 12 existing halal-certifying bodies recognized in
the next few months. “We are not compelling them to apply with us and
be accredited, but it is better for all these bodies to follow the
national standards for halal,” he said in an interview.

The board is recognized by the government as the sole authority
in the Philippines to accredit halal certifiers, or those who check if
a product passed the strict food preparation procedures prescribed by
Islam.

The Philippines now has over 50 halal-certifying bodies and
individuals. Mr. Abubakar said the board has accredited only two
certifiers, based in Maguindanao and Davao.

The call came as the departments of Trade, Agriculture, and
Health last Monday started conducting public hearings on the
implementing guidelines of the National Halal Standard for food, which
is scheduled to be implemented early next year. — D. T. Wee