The Associated Press
Published: December 19, 2006
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysia on Tuesday urged international makers of foods that are halal, or acceptable under Islamic rules, to standardize guidelines in an effort to reach a larger market.
Hundreds of business leaders and policy makers from the halal food industry will hold a World Halal Forum in Kuala Lumpur in May to discuss issues such as manufacturing and distribution, said organizing committee chairman Khairy Jamaluddin.
Forum organizers said current certification standards for halal products vary among countries, sometimes confusing consumers and forcing producers to undergo repeated certification processes in nations with different regulations.
"We want to promote halal as a premium item ... for confidence in the integrity of (an) entire food chain that is clean, that is safe, that is healthy," Khairy told reporters.
A halal designation means a product complies with Islamic principles of hygiene and humane treatment of animals, and other rules involving the production processes.
Streamlined global halal standards must satisfy Muslim consumers whose main concerns are religious rules, and must attract non-Muslims who want an assurance of food products' quality and safety, said Malaysia's Halal Development Corp. Chief Executive Jamil Bidin.
"Harmonization of standards is not there yet, so it will be nice if we can see that one day ... just one standard that we can (all) follow," Jamil said.
Jamil said the global industry for halal products and services is estimated to be worth up to US$2.1 trillion (€1.6 trillion) annually.
Malaysia, one of the world's most prosperous Islamic countries, has said it wants to become a global halal food hub by 2010, using its edge over other Muslim nations in trading, logistics, banking and halal certification.
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