Miti to simplify process for halal certification
KUALA LUMPUR: Financial constraint and manpower shortage are among the reasons why it took time for imported products to be endorsed with Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) halal certification.
Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said it takes between six months and a year for the imported products to be certified halal by Jakim. “We are looking at ways to simplify this,” he said here yesterday.
Currently, Jakim recognises halal certification from 57 bodies coming from 33 countries. However, due to the lack of a single global halal standard, the process and procedures from each country sometimes are different from the ones practised by Jakim.
The ministry organised a briefing session on Malaysia Halal System for the representatives from foreign embassies. The briefing was held yesterday for the first time to clarify issues pertaining to the halal market in Malaysia and explain potentials of this booming industry. Twenty-four foreign delegates attended the briefing, including the ambassadors from Uruguay and Argentina, trade commissioners and officials from various industries.
Malaysia’s exports of halal products jumped 53.24 per cent to RM35.4 billion last year from RM23.1 billion recorded in 2010.
Halal ingredients led exports with RM12.3 billion, followed by food and beverages at RM11.9 billion, palm oil derivatives at RM7 billion, industrial chemicals RM2 billion, cosmetics and personal care RM1.8 billion and pharmaceuticals RM290 million. The top five export markets for Malaysia’s halal products were China, the US, Singapore, the Netherlands and Japan.
“To ensure the product is halal, we have to be very precise in analysing the details. Other factors involved are time constraints, financial and the lack of manpower,” he told a press conference after delivering a speech at the closing ceremony of the Briefing Session on Malaysia Halal System here Wednesday.
Mustapa said there are requests made by the foreign traders to simplify the process and reduce the duration by skipping some of the tests.
“We must explain to them that the process must comply with the Syariah requirements to ensure its integrity.
“Once consumers lose confidence in the halal status, sales and trade would be affected, thus, it is imperative to have an international halal standard that has the highest assurance of integrity,” he added.
— BERNAMA
Eateries Not Forced To Apply For Halal Certification – Jakim
KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) — Operators of eateries are not compelled to apply for the “halal” certification so as to display the halal logo at their premises, according to Hakimah Mohd Yusoff, director of the Halal Hub Division in the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim).
She said, however, that eateries having the certification and displaying the logo would benefit in the sense that customers would feel confident eating at these outlets.
Eateries displaying the halal logo should be able to show proof of the halal certification issued by Jakim or the Islamic Religious Council or the state Islamic religious councils, she said in a statement Wednesday.
— BERNAMA
