Kuwait: Resolutions from the ‘First Gulf Conference on Halal and its Services’

In the name of Allah the Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “Eat of that which Allah has provided for the lawful and good and fear Allah in Whom you are believers,” (The Table (88)

Praise be for Allah and prayer and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Under the patronage of His Excellency Chancellor Rashed Abdul Mohsen Al-Hammad, Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, the First Gulf Conference on Halal and its Services was held from 20-22 Safar 1432 AH corresponding to 24 to 26 January 2011, in the Holiday Inn Hotel, Salmiya, Kuwait.

This Conference comes as part of Kuwait’s genuine interest in reviewing the Islamic, scientific and economic and commercial aspects relating to the Halal industry and its services. The organizers also share these noble interests and therefore wish to prepare recommendations that have proper grounds in Islamic Sharia, scientifically substantiated and applicable. Moreover, the organizers believe that all these efforts are exerted to promote safe and sound Islamic support for the Halal Industry and its services.

The respected participants have all commended the efforts made by the organizers of this conference to present this event appropriately and as a leading experience. The papers presented as well as the dialogue, discussions and interventions that took place in the conference have all resulted in the following recommendations:

Recommendations of the First Gulf Conference on Halal Industry and its Services

1. Establishing a unified Gulf office with a mission to oversee to Halal industry and its services. The GCC Standardization Organization (GSO) will act as the Technical Secretariat. The office will also establish corresponding national committees to be formed in each of the member states comprising of religious, scientific, and enforcement bodies. The head of the committee will be a member in the Office. The Office will set its objectives and mechanism of functioning. Members from outside the Office may also be invited to participate in its activities.

2. Working on the standardization of control procedures to verify the Halalness (permissibility) of imported food products for the GCC common market and coordinating the exchange of information with other Muslim countries.

3. The Conference calls for providing the necessary financial support for scientific research centers and universities to conduct research on ways to detect Haram (prohibited) materials in the foods, considering the great need for such findings in substantiating the religious decisions adopted by the Islamic jurisprudence bodies.

4. The Conference recommends applying caution with the use of stunning methods as much as possible and alternatively advocates wider use of hand slaughtering, with emphasis on the enforcement of the Islamic jurisprudence bodies resolutions, and in particular the Decision of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy No: 95 (3 / 10).

5. The Conference reaffirms the right of consumer to know the slaughtering method used to be written clearly on the food label.

6. The Conference calls on regulators to pursue enforcing standard specifications for Halal products and increasing periodic field visits to the concern factories and slaughterhouses.

7. The Conference recommends referring the scientific papers presented throughout the conference sessions on stunning methods to the International Islamic Fiqh Academy for review and appraisal.

8. The Conference calls on Muslim businessmen and investors to invest in the Halal industry and its services given the need of the Islamic nation for this industry.

At the conclusion of the conference the participants decided to extend their deepest thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, may Allah protect him, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Chancellor Rashed Abdul Mohsen Al-Hammad Chancellor, for his patronage of the Conference.

Finally, we thank Allah for His grace, and ask Him to assist us all to serve Islam and the Muslims.

May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad, his family and companions

Peace, Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you.