BRUNEI - HALAL - Brunei Halal eyes European made goods for Asia

www.bt.com.bn - BRUNEI Halal brand is hoping to introduce European-made products in Asia under the brand name in future, as opposed to only having Asian manufactured products distributed in Europe, said the brand's owners, Brunei Wafirah Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Feby Latip, general manager of Brunei Wafirah Holdings, said that the products made under the brand are manufactured in Asia and are only sold in the region, but the company is targeting a wider European scope where its subsidiary office in the United Kingdom will act as a sales and distribution platform.

Feby, in the Oxford Business Group's (OBG) "The Report 2011" for Brunei, said that Europe is a "very self-serving and profit-orientated industry". (source)

BRUNEI - HALAL - Restaurants face challenges in getting halal certification

RESTAURANTS are rushing to submit applications for halal accreditation, and many are finding it a lengthy process.

Recently, His Majesty's government has made it mandatory for eateries that serve halal food to obtain a halal certification by December 31, 2013.

Failure to do so will have their miscellaneous (business) licenses terminated or revoked.  (source)

BRUNEI - HALAL - Halal certification process too 'complicated', say restaurateurs

Halal Food Control Division says the extensive procedure is a necessary burden to ensure a restaurant is truly halal-certified

SEVERAL restaurateurs have criticised the "complicated" process to obtain halal certification, with the majority arguing that the requirement of listing and tracing back the halal origins of every ingredient used in their menu a deterrent to getting the mandatory certificate. (source)

BRUNEI - HALAL - Brunei Halal sets up UK distribution base

THE Brunei Halal Brand has set up a base in Birmingham, United Kingdom to push sales and distribution in the country and in Europe.

The Bruneian company has become the latest tenant of Saltley Business Park in Birmingham, where it signed a five-year lease contract for a 25,000-sq ft unit. (source)

WORLD - HALAL - China eyes bigger share in halal food market

todayszaman.com - In north-central China's autonomous region of Ningxia, where 2.2 million Chinese Hui Muslims live, the halal food industry is rapidly developing to cater to the needs of Muslims in China with a keen interest to increase China's share in the world's $150 billion halal food market. (source)

TAIWAN - HALAL - Yilan resort certified halal, hosts Islamic youth camp

The Shangrila Leisure Farm in Dongshan Township, Yilan County, received halal certification from the Chinese Muslim Association earlier this month, paving the way for the Taiwan Islamic Youth Camp now under way at the resort.

Shangrila was the only place of lodging certified as halal among a first group of 14 businesses designated as such in Taiwan, with all the others being restaurants. (source)

WORLD - HALAL - Asean Needs To Explore World Halal Food Industry, Says Asean Sec-Gen

HAT YAI, July 28 (Bernama) -- Asean countries need to tap the vast potential existing in the world's halal food industry against a backdrop of improved economic status among Muslims countries, said the grouping's Secretary General Dr Surin Pitsuwan.

"The rise in middle-income population gives an opportunity for Asean countries to conquer this industry as the world's halal market stood at US$25 trillion, annually. (source)

MALAYSIA - HALAL - Malaysian Islamic Chamber To Explore Halal Business Opportunities In Thailand

HAT YAI, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce plans to explore halal business opportunities in Thailand as the country was serious in developing the industry.

Vice-President Datuk Dr Abd Latiff Awang said Thailand was very committed to the cause despite being a non-Muslim country and has emerged as the world's sixth largest producer of halal products. (source)

INDONESIA - HALAL - Halal Logistics Business Potential in Indonesia

A Fast Growing Halal Economy

One reason for the rise of the halal economy is that the global customer group of nearly two billion Muslims are younger and, in some places at least, richer than ever. Halal is used to describe anything permissible under Islamic law, in contrast to "haram" – which is forbidden. (source)

BRUNEI - HALAL - Brunei Halal to hire locals for UK unit

BRUNEI Halal is opening its doors for interested candidates to be part of the brand's global expansion programme.

A job vacancy advertisement was recently released in the local media by Brunei Wafirah Holdings Sdn Bhd owner of the Brunei Halal brand, to find local talents to fill positions overseas. (source)