INDONESIA - HALAL - Indonesia: More imported products declared halal by MUI

www.halalfocus.net - Companies from 37 countries have been granted halal certificates by the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), indicating a growing interest in the halal product business in Indonesia, said an Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) executive on Tuesday.
“It is a good sign that Muslims in Indonesia can consume more imported products, which are safe and in compliance with the Islamic law,” said the Institute for Economic Study, Research and Development (LP3ES) Kadin head, Anaz M Fauzi, during a seminar in Jakarta.  (source)

INDONESIA - HALAL - Mayora Commitment of Halal assurance

www.mayora.com -Mayora,as one of the biggest FMCG company in Indonesia, realizes that Halal assurance for its products is one of the essential pillars in producing high quality and safe to be consumed products. This protects not only Indonesian consumers but also global consumers.
From March to April 2012, every factory within Mayora Group took turn in having an audit process, a pre-requisite to get a Halal certificate extension.  (source)

TAIWAN - HALAL - Taiwan promotes 'Muslim Friendly' certification of restaurants

www.focustaiwan.tw - Taipei, Feb. 24 (CNA) The Tourism Bureau has joined with the Taipei-based Chinese Muslim Association since the beginning of the year to promote the certification of restaurants in Taiwan as being friendly to Muslims.

The new measure was taken amid an increase of visitors from Muslim-dominant areas in China, Malaysia and Indonesia to Taiwan in recent years, said Lin Kun-yuan, head of the international affairs division of the bureau. (source)

INDONESIA - HALAL - Government Supports the Halal Food Guarantee Bill to be Approved Soon

www.halalfocus.net - Jakarta, dpd.go.id - Still in order to gather views on the Halal Products Guarantee Bill, Committee III again held a Public Hearing (RDPU) on Wednesday (22/02/2012) with guest speaker from the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta and the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. On this occasion, RDPU led by Vice-Chairman of Committee III, Moh. Syibli Sahabuddin. (source)

MALAYSIA - HALAL - Malaysian SMEs urged to get halal certification

www.btimes.com.my - KUALA LUMPUR: Local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including Muslim entrepreneurs, are urged to get halal certification to seize lucrative opportunities in the global halal sector.


Muslim SMEs should discard the assumption that their customers would believe their products are halal by virtue of being muslims.

Founder-director of the World Halal Forum (WHF) Jumaatun Azmi said there is still a significant gap in the implementation of halal standards by the local SMEs. (source)

INDONESIA - HALAL - MUI Criticizes NU’s Plan to Draft Halal Certification

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) has criticized Nahdlatul Ulama’s (NU) plan to draft halal and honesty certifications for its members.

Lukmanul Hakim, MUI’s food, drug and cosmetics study agency’s (LPPOM MUI) director, said it was unnecessary for NU to issue its own certifications because the LPPOM’s halal certificate was transparent and practical. However, he said, the certificate arrangement was subject to fees because the office is not subsidized by the government.  (source)

INDONESIA - HALAL - Europe, U.S, Australia Support Indonesia As World's Halal Centre

www.bernama.com - JAKARTA, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- The leaders of the European Union, United States and Australian delegations supported the idea of Indonesia serving as the world's halal centre, according to Antara News Agency. (source)

INDONESIA - HALAL - VP Hopes Halal Certification Not a Burden for Consumers

Vice President Boediono said that he hoped the application of ‘halal’ certification would not be too costly for poorer consumers. 

“I also hope that the standardization would be assessed so that it would not burden consumers. This is important because some of the consumers are Muslims whose incomes are still small,” the vice president said as he opened the annual meeting of the World Halal Food Council in Jakarta on Monday.   (source)

MALAYSIA - HALAL - Non-Muslim Entrepreneurs, Firms Urged To Venture Into Halal Industry

KUCHING, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Non-Muslim entrepreneurs and companies in Sarawak are encouraged to venture into the halal industry by following the standards set by Islamic councils and world bodies.

Its Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said a Taiwanese company, who had received the certification to produce halal food, has taken the opportunity to invest in Tanjung Manis Halal Hub.  (source)

MALAYSIA - HALAL - Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre kitchens (finally) certified halal

halalmedia.my - The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre have announced that all its kitchens – Chinese, Western, Cold, Pastry and Malay – have been certified halal by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM). 

The choice venue of at least three annual Halal events since 2007 – the World Halal Forum, the World Halal Research Summit and the International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) – the Centre confirms that every item, ingredient, manufacturer, supplier, process and procedure has been audited by JAKIM and certified halal.

Based on the Malaysian Standards (MS1500:2009), the Centre has complied with all stringent procedures and detailed analysis related to the halal process and that JAKIM has conducted a physical site inspection of the Centre’s storage area, cold room, process plant and handling aspects during production and packaging, general hygiene, quality control and assurance practices. (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)

INDONESIA - EVENTS - Ministry Ecomomics encourages use of halal food

Vivanews - Government support to improve the delivery of certification of halal products in the country. It aims to drive economic growth in Indonesia is better in the future.

According to Coordinating Minister for Economy, Hatta Rajasa, halal certified products now has its own market share in the world. Until now, 20 percent of the world's food products are halal. (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)

CAMBODJA - HALAL - Malaysia Is Third Largest Investor In Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, July 20 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has become the third largest investor in Cambodia with its investments in the country amounting to US$3.4 billion from 1980.

Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia, Datuk Pengiran Mohd Hussein Datuk Pengiran Mohd Tahir Nasruddin said Malaysia'a third placing comes after China and Korea.

The investment opportunities for Malaysia are still plenty especially in the agriculture sector considering the availability of large areas of land which are yet to be developed in the country, he said. (source)

TAIWAN - HALAL - Local restaurants obtain Halal certification

Taipei, July 15 (CNA) Fourteen local restaurants obtained Halal certification Friday, the first time Taiwan issued such certification in an effort to attract Islamic tourists worldwide.

Halal certification is a recognition of products that are permissible under Islamic law for consumption by Muslims.

Chiang Ming-ching, a division chief of the Tourism Bureau, said the campaign promoting Halal cuisine helps Taiwan reach Islamic markets more easily.  (source)

OPINION - PHILIPPINES - HALAL - The true state of the nation

...

Fish being in vogue today for the recent notorious fish kill, here’s a story about “one that got away.”

In a recent speech at the International Halal seminar held in Makati, the chairperson of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Secretary Bai Omera Dianalan Lucman, spoke about the commission prioritizing the growth and sustainability of Halal, or food and non-food items prepared according to Islamic ideals. Her commission’s goal is to promote adherence to strict Halal standards, enabling the country to reap economic benefits from the industry and to “strengthen social cohesion in a multi-cultural country.” (source)

HALAL - Vietnam needs more Halal products

Ahmad Shanizam, Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Malaysia in HCMC, discusses the importance of the Halal market and Halal products (*) for helping attract Muslim tourists to Vietnam. The Saigon Times Daily interviewed the commissioner on the sidelines of the Halal Certification-Export Opportunities and Approaches for Vietnamese Entrepreneurs seminar recently organized in HCMC by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. (source)

BRUNEI - Halal cert not easy to get but worth it

AS OF May 2011, a total of 54 companies have already obtained the Halal Certification and Halal Label from the Ministry's Halal Food Control Division (HFCD). The figures include 26 restaurants, 21 food companies (local food products) and seven international food pocessing companies certified under the Brunei Halal Brand.

However, this figure was less than the expected target set out by the Ministry, which sparked concerns among the community on the poor level of interest and commitment among restaurant owners operating in the Muslim state. (full story - brunei times)

BRUNEI - HALAL - Brunei Halal sourcing Oz products

Debbie Too
MELBOURNE

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

THE Brunei Halal Brand was recently in Melbourne, Australia to meet with an estimated 40 Australian companies, which could be potential manufacturers for their future range of products.

Noel Shield, interim chief executive officer, joined a business delegation that was a part of Royal Brunei Airlines' inaugural flight to Melbourne programme and he revealed that there has been great reaction and support for the national brand. (full story)

HALAL FOOD - Indonesia Halal Exhibition Expo 2011 (June 24-26, 2011)

LPPOM MUI will hold an international event in June 2011.

The exhibition under the name Indonesia Halal Expo 2011 (INDHEX) is the only exhibition of halal products in Indonesia in 2011 this. Given the widespread public awareness of the higher will be kosher, this event is expected to further raise awareness and community spirit of kosher.

The exhibition is planned to be followed by producers of halal products both from within and abroad. Not only that, LPPOM MUI local SMEs through the products it will also enliven the event which took place on 24 - 26 June 2011 in SMESCO Halal Exhibition, Street Gatot Subroto Jakarta. (full story)