Newsletter Halal Italia December 2010 / Newsletter N° 001

Halal Italia is pleased to announce that, during the World Halal Forum-Europe held in London on 10th and 11th November, 2010, it was the only Italian institution to be awarded an official certificate as an Associate Member of the IHI (The International Halal Integrity Alliance), the leading international network for the promotion of halal certification, based in Kuala Lumpur, and a member of the Jeddah Islamic Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Isa Benassi represented Halal Italia at the awards ceremony. The IHI Alliance currently brings together the most important international halal certification bodies (www.ihialliance.org): just a year and a half after the start of our certification activity and only five months after the signing of the agreement with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, of Agriculture, of Economic Development and of Health in support of Halal Italia, this recognition at an international level is an important step up for the visibility and promotion of the name Halal Italia as a high-quality label for Italian halal products.

For the Fourth World Forum on Internationalisation, the ABI (Italian Banking Association) chose Islamic finance and the opportunities for cooperation and business with Islamic-majority countries as its subject. This year’s event was organized in collaboration with the ASSAIF (Association for the Development of Alternative Methods and for Financial Innovation) and was held on October 22nd, 2010 in the prestigious Palazzo Altieri in Rome, with the title, “Using Islamic Finance: Methods and Reasons.” Dr. Mansur Baudo was among the speakers: he is a member of the Shari’ah Board of CO.RE.IS. Italiana (Islamic Religious Community in Italy) and a founder of Halal Italia. The strategic importance of cooperation between banks, businesses and institutions who know how to seize the opportunities that Islamic Finance is now also offering in Italy, was also highlighted by the Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Hon. Adolfo Urso, who opened the conference proceedings. Other important talks were given by the Vice-Chairman of the ABI, Guido Rosa, by the President of the Confederation of Small Industries, Vincenzo Boccia, by the Managing Director of SIMEST, Massimo D’Aiuto, and by Albert Liotta, Director at Deloitte Consulting.

World Halal Forum / Europe 2010: Halal Italia becomes an Associate Member of the IHI Alliance!

Islamic Finance: Halal Italia at the 2010ABI Internationalisation Forum

EMAIL info@halalitalia.org / WEB www.halalitalia.org

“Rights, Cultures and Migration. Boundary Problems in the Fields of Agriculture and Food,” was the central theme of the “XI Days of Islamic Law and Arab Countries,” held in Pisa on November 19th and 20th, 2010, respectively, in the Hall of the Council of the Twelve in Piazza dei Cavalieri and in the Main Historical Lecture Room at the Sant’Anna High School. The study days were organized by the School in collaboration with the World Union of University Agricultural Experts, the Association of Italian Experts in Agricultural Law and the Observatory of Agriculture and Food Regulations. Prominent teachers of agricultural and Islamic law, economists, veterinarians and researchers in the field of international migration discussed the question of halal certification and its many ramifications in the different fields of study represented, as well as the ever-increasing interest of this issue both in the academic world and in the business market. To offer an insider’s perspective, the school invited Dr. Hamid Distefano, Managing Director of Halal Italia, and Attorney Paolo Greco and Professor Lorenzo Ascanio from P&A Legal, partner of Halal Italia for legal and commercial assistance for markets in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

The Sant’Anna High School, Pisa: Study days on Islamic lawand Arab countries

Halal certification is the perfect way to satisfy the growing demand for products prepared according to Islamic dietary principles, so that high-quality Italian products can become known, or increase their market penetration, in countries with large numbers of Muslims, thus increasing exports . With this in mind, on November 16th, 2010 at Apindustria in Vicenza, the UnionAlimentari-CONFAPI organized the seminar, “Halal Certification for Italian Food Products,” aimed at companies operating in the food industry. The seminar was organized by experts from Halal Italia, the Italian agency for Islamic certification, and by CO.RE.IS. Italiana (Islamic Religious Community in Italy).The seminar had two sections: “Islamic Legal Principles and Their Application in the Food Industry” and “Halal in the World: New Horizons for Italian Companies.” These themes were useful to inform companies about the criteria for Islamic ethical-religious requirements concerning halal food and on obtaining certification and the development of the halal market in Italy and abroad. Dr. Isa Benassi and Dr. Halima Rubbo from Halal Italia, and Dr. Aisha Lazzerini of CO.RE.IS. Italia were among the speakers.

UnionAlimentari-Halal Italia: Halal certification for Italian food products

EMAIL info@halalitalia.org / WEB www.halalitalia.org

Newsletter Halal Italia December 2010 / Newsletter N°001