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THE
government is now improving the capabilities and number of halal
coordinators in the country as the Philippines seeks to gain a bigger
share of the $150-billion global halal market.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is now holding training and seminars for current and potential halal
coordinators throughout the country. These coordinators will, in turn,
lead the government’s advocacy program to increase the number of
Philippine halal-certified food products.
Halal refers to products prepared according to accepted Islamic practices. The
target is to also expand Philippine-made halal-certified products to
include cosmetics, perfumery and other consumer items such as footwear,
garments and textiles.
This, the DTI said, will lead to a rise in investment in halal goods production in the Philippines and make the local industry more competitive in the world market.
The coordinators will act as point persons on activities regarding halal in their respective areas
and will also hold seminars/workshops in their regions, link food firms
with halal certifiers, coordinate their participation in
regional/national/international trade fairs, and provide consultations
on halal.
The halal coordinator will also propagate knowledge on Philippine
National Standard 2067:2008, which provides the general guidelines for
the Philippine food industry on the preparation and handling of halal
food, including food supplements, and serves as a fundamental
requirement for food products and food trade in the Philippines. This
standard should be used together with acceptable food-safety systems
such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point and Good Manufacturing Practice.
Some
33 participants from DTI offices in Caraga, Region 4, Region 4-A,
Region 6, Region 9, Region 10, Region 11, Region 12, National Capital
Region, Cordillera Autonomous Region, the Bureau of Export Trade
Promotion, the Philippine Trade Training Center, the Bureau of Product
Standards, the Bureau of Domestic Trade, the Bureau of Micro, Small,
Medium, Enterprise Development, and the Office of Legal Affairs formed
the initial batch that took the training for halal coordinators.
The promotion of halal products in the global market is part of the Philippine Export Development Plan 2008 to 2010, which recognizes the potential of the worldwide halal market.
The
global halal market is estimated to be 1.6 billion consumers in 112
countries in five continents and worth around $80 billion to $150
billion.
The
biggest concentration of Muslim consumers are in Indonesia with 212
million, Pakistan with 158 million, Bangladesh with 127 million, Egypt
with 69 million, Iran with 67 million Turkey with 66 million and
Nigeria with 64 million.
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