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Challenges in Halal Certification in the Philippines

Halal is a Qur’anic term meaning ‘permitted, allowed Halal is a Qur’anic term meaning ‘permitted, allowed or lawful’. Halal when used in relation to food and or lawful’. Halal when used in relation to food and other consumer goods, means “permissible for other consumer goods, means “permissible for consumption and used by Muslims’consumption and used by Muslims’

Haram is the opposite of halal.Haram is the opposite of halal.

Shubhah or Mashbooh, means doubtful or suspectedShubhah or Mashbooh, means doubtful or suspected

Halal and haram are serious matters in IslamHalal and haram are serious matters in Islam

Islamic Law is based on the Quran, Hadith, Ijma’ and Qiyas

A particular food or other consumer product becomes halal or haram if it is considered so through any one of the above mentioned sources

Fatwa (religious rulings) issued by competent Islamic Authorities.

The lives of every Muslim are guided by Shariah Law

Cont…

Cont…Cont…

In the selection of food and drink, Islam has In the selection of food and drink, Islam has laid down three very important guidelines:laid down three very important guidelines:

Whether the consumption of the foodstuff is Whether the consumption of the foodstuff is prohibited by Islamprohibited by Islam

Whether the foodstuff is obtained through Halal or Whether the foodstuff is obtained through Halal or Haram means Haram means

Whether or not the material is harmful to health Whether or not the material is harmful to health

Looking Back……..Looking Back……..

Regulating food products to ensure that Regulating food products to ensure that these are fit for Muslims to consume has these are fit for Muslims to consume has been proven to be a challenging task for been proven to be a challenging task for certifying bodies even in Muslim-led certifying bodies even in Muslim-led countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

This could be attributed to the fact that most This could be attributed to the fact that most food products being prepared, processed, food products being prepared, processed, manufactured, and distributed around the manufactured, and distributed around the globe are mostly produced by non-Muslims globe are mostly produced by non-Muslims (A & W, KFC, M’c Donald's, Burger King, (A & W, KFC, M’c Donald's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Delifrance and Siam Kitchen) Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Delifrance and Siam Kitchen)

?!!!?

•This is a reality that has been accepted even by the Muslim world

•This situation led to the enforcement of Halal compliance program in Muslim and even non-Muslim countries which rapidly took shape in the 1980s and 1990s and continuing even to this day

•The imposition of these Halal regulations are believed to have actually triggered the development of Halal industry on a global scale

While Halal certification in the country has been While Halal certification in the country has been

sparingly practiced in the last 20 years or so, sparingly practiced in the last 20 years or so,

it was only recently that its importance are it was only recently that its importance are

beginning to be recognized by the government beginning to be recognized by the government

and the business sector for the tremendous and the business sector for the tremendous

opportunities that a vibrant Halal industry can opportunities that a vibrant Halal industry can

bring to the economybring to the economy

A Hard Start for the Country…..

But despite the initiative to jumpstart a home-grown But despite the initiative to jumpstart a home-grown Halal industry in the Philippines since it was Halal industry in the Philippines since it was

launched six years ago, much work has yet to launched six years ago, much work has yet to

be done to make a significant inroads into this be done to make a significant inroads into this

emerging and globalizing industryemerging and globalizing industry

• Our country has managed so far to churn out only about 400 Halal certified products produced by some 55 companies – a number of these supposed Halal-compliant products are still subject of suspicion of being not Halal at all

In the eyes of the Muslim world, the Philippines is very In the eyes of the Muslim world, the Philippines is very much a non-Muslim country and that forbidden (haram) much a non-Muslim country and that forbidden (haram) food and drinks are widely produced, catered, and food and drinks are widely produced, catered, and distributed all throughout the country even in Muslim distributed all throughout the country even in Muslim communitiescommunities

Halal certification in the country is still struggling to be at Halal certification in the country is still struggling to be at par with international practicespar with international practices

The Constraint…….

the presence of alcohol and gelatin in food products the presence of alcohol and gelatin in food products

feed ingredients used in livestock and marine production feed ingredients used in livestock and marine production

pork being mixed into beef as patties and processed pork being mixed into beef as patties and processed meat meat

lard used as frying oillard used as frying oil

shortening in bakery productsshortening in bakery products

Taking on the hard task…….

Halal certifiers for its part, given the fast-paced Halal certifiers for its part, given the fast-paced development in the food industry, are confronted development in the food industry, are confronted with issues and concerns in food products involving…….with issues and concerns in food products involving…….

pigskin as extenders in manufactured meat productspigskin as extenders in manufactured meat productsphosphate in canned tunaphosphate in canned tunalecithin in drinks lecithin in drinks vanilla flavors in cakes and ice cream vanilla flavors in cakes and ice cream pork enzyme in popular food seasoning pork enzyme in popular food seasoning gmo-tainted food productsgmo-tainted food productsthe use of stunning and mechanical knife in livestock and the use of stunning and mechanical knife in livestock and poultry poultry cross contamination in food production and processing cross contamination in food production and processing and a host of other concern that would require thorough and a host of other concern that would require thorough and diligent scrutiny. and diligent scrutiny.

Halal certifiers are likewise wary of the more than 14,000 Halal certifiers are likewise wary of the more than 14,000 chemicals and additives used in the modern day food chemicals and additives used in the modern day food supplysupplyhormonal and antibiotic residues in meat productshormonal and antibiotic residues in meat productspreservatives and food coloring in canned meat and preservatives and food coloring in canned meat and prepared foodsprepared foodspesticide residues in soft drinks pesticide residues in soft drinks harmful chemicals and banned antibiotics in aquaculture harmful chemicals and banned antibiotics in aquaculture products products and biotoxins, viruses, pathogenic bacteria and chemical and biotoxins, viruses, pathogenic bacteria and chemical contaminants in sea foods.contaminants in sea foods.

Health and well being of Muslims and non-Muslims alike …….

investing in organizational strengtheninginvesting in organizational strengthening investing in raising technical competence of its peopleinvesting in raising technical competence of its people investing in continuing training and field exposuresinvesting in continuing training and field exposures investing in participation to Halal symposia here and investing in participation to Halal symposia here and abroadabroad investing in research and educationinvesting in research and education investing in continuing capability-buildinginvesting in continuing capability-buildingand a continuing review and upgrading of its current and a continuing review and upgrading of its current practices and procedures to cope up with new practices and procedures to cope up with new developments in the food industrydevelopments in the food industry

As an internal concern, Halal certifiers are expected to re-equip themselves by ………

low appreciation and understanding of Halal certification by food low appreciation and understanding of Halal certification by food producers and manufacturersproducers and manufacturersOutright rejection of some requirements in Halal compliance Outright rejection of some requirements in Halal compliance (Muslim Employees in the production side)(Muslim Employees in the production side)Varying degrees of competence and sophistication employed by Varying degrees of competence and sophistication employed by Halal certifiers in product evaluation and processesHalal certifiers in product evaluation and processesThe existence of a number of certifiers with more seeking The existence of a number of certifiers with more seeking registration as Halal certifying bodiesregistration as Halal certifying bodiesNo indication of Halal value chain being introduced in food No indication of Halal value chain being introduced in food production and distributionproduction and distributionHalal logo being indiscriminately and brazenly placed on food Halal logo being indiscriminately and brazenly placed on food products without independent third party attestationproducts without independent third party attestationRampant claim of food as Halal without proofRampant claim of food as Halal without proof

As an external concern, Halal certifiers are still faced with …….

The promulgation of the Philippine National Standards The promulgation of the Philippine National Standards on Halal Food in February 28, 2008 was a on Halal Food in February 28, 2008 was a “breakthrough” in the sense that both the industry and “breakthrough” in the sense that both the industry and certifying bodies would now have common references certifying bodies would now have common references and benchmarks in Halal compliance in relation to the and benchmarks in Halal compliance in relation to the production and processing of foodproduction and processing of foodIntensified Halal education program is underway and Intensified Halal education program is underway and being implemented nationwide by the Department of being implemented nationwide by the Department of Trade and IndustryTrade and IndustryHalal consumers are now being organized Halal consumers are now being organized

Coming of Age …….

Food organizations are now taking strong interest in Food organizations are now taking strong interest in learning more about the requirements and processes learning more about the requirements and processes involve in Halal certificationinvolve in Halal certificationBoth certifiers and food industry players are attending Both certifiers and food industry players are attending Halal conferences and food exhibitions here and abroadHalal conferences and food exhibitions here and abroadTesting laboratories have signed up to support halal Testing laboratories have signed up to support halal certification requirementscertification requirementsSome certifiers have established collaboration with Some certifiers have established collaboration with foreign counterparts and other institutionsforeign counterparts and other institutions

For stakeholders to get its act togetherFor stakeholders to get its act together

For Halal certifiers to shape up and provide authentic For Halal certifiers to shape up and provide authentic and reliable Halal certificationand reliable Halal certification

For the food sector to take pro- active role in the For the food sector to take pro- active role in the production and promotion of Halal productsproduction and promotion of Halal products

Harmonize all efforts to bring about a holistic approach in Harmonize all efforts to bring about a holistic approach in developing our very own home-grown Halal food industrydeveloping our very own home-grown Halal food industry

To do the certification as an act of Ibadah (worship) and To do the certification as an act of Ibadah (worship) and not just for money purposes alonenot just for money purposes alone

A call for unified action ……..

Presented:Ustadz Esmael W. Ebrahim,MPAManaging DirectorMuslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board