06
Foreign News
@ Halal | March-April . 2022
First halal-certified surgical N95 masks Wearers will feel protected and accommodated , inclusive of religious values
PASTURE GROUP , the leading global medical device manufacturer and pharmaceutical company in Singapore , unveiled its accreditation as the world ’ s top halal-certified US FDA-approved N95 mask producer for healthcare and public use .
Known for manufacturing highquality , medical-grade masks for healthcare , occupational and public use , the Singaporean company began their R & D and producing speciality masks in 2005 , following the aftermath of the SARS epidemic .
Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic , the company supplied over 100 million surgical masks and Surgical N95 respirators globally . Pasture remains one of only two companies globally that received US FDA approval for their N95 masks to be used by the public during the pandemic .
According to the CEO of Pasture Group , Lloyd Soong , the company ’ s latest halal-compliance certification is created to ensure that wearers feel protected and accommodated , inclusive of religious values .
“ After Pasture won the largest government tender in Malaysia in 2018 , many healthcare workers wearing hijab or prayer caps struggled to put on and remove masks . We wanted to
INDONESIA Social Commerce Platform for halal products , Evermos , announced its commitment to supporting women ’ s roles in the post- Covid-19 national economic recovery by giving access , opportunity , and training to women across Indonesia .
This commitment is followed by the inclusion of Evermos as a signatory to the UN Women ’ s Empowerment Principles ( WEPs ), through the WeEmpower Asia programme supported by the European Union , to promote gender equality throughout the Evermos ecosystem .
Evermos launched the # PerempuanAndalan campaign on Mar 8 , 2022 , to coincide with International Women ’ s Day on the same day . The campaign focuses on the role of women in the family as an essential element to sustaining the national economy .
Founded in 2018 , Evermos empowers more than 100,000 women across Indonesia by giving them access to additional incomes , enabling them to become resellers .
“ When Women are enabled by having entrepreneurial activities and selling , they have the opportunity to attain financial freedom and become
solve this problem ,” said Soong .
“ So , we created the Pasture PM30 N95 mask – one of the world ’ s first NIOSH N95 masks with ear loops – specifically designed with adjustable clips to accommodate healthcare workers who wear head-coverings comfortably . We have also ensured that the rest of our PM range and the kids ’ masks are halal-certified .”
Firm commitments to ensure high product quality and inclusivity and safety , Pasture underwent a lengthy and meticulous procedure to ensure the products ’ halal compliance . This process spanned the last five years . This includes implementing Halal Assurance System ( HAS ) and policies to ensure that the entire manufacturing and post-manufacturing process is halal .
The company , for instance , only uses raw materials by halal-certified suppliers , along with storage and outward-bound methods that are halal-compliant without the risk of contamination .
Pasture ’ s masks obtained halal certification on Jan 26 , 2022 , from LPPOM MUI , the governmentapproved institution authorised to issue halal certificates for medicines and cosmetics in Indonesia .
Pasture ’ s halal compliance was also audited by the former Deputy Head of the federal government agency for Islamic affairs , Malaysia ( JAKIM ). In addition , the company ’ s facilities and operations are also certified by US FDA , NIOSH , CE , ISO , and GMP .
“ A good mask that offers full protection ensures that particles in the air you inhale and exhale are contained in the same areas . When you exhale , you emit tiny particles and saliva ; the mist then encounters the mask and is re-consumed with inhalation .
“ With our recent halal certification , we want to ensure that our wearers everywhere , from healthcare workers wearing head coverings or pilgrims performing the Hajj and Umrah , feel safe and comfortable wearing and breathing in the mask ,” said Soong .
Evermos supports women ’ s participation in national economic recovery
more independent , effectively they can contribute to their household income ,” stated Iqbal Muslimin , Chief of Sustainability Evermos .
In addition to providing free , easy and inclusive access to become a reseller , Evermos continues to provide education and training for its ecosystem . In 2021 , Evermos delivered more than 18,000 hours of training .
The training is offered online and offline as a form of empowerment to help people improve basic selling skills , such as entrepreneurship , community building , product selection , and life skill training , including financial and social skills .
Evermos also collaborated with UN Women to encourage women entrepreneurs to participate in WERise . This programme aims to increase women ’ s access to resources
Evermos Training with Housewives at Reseller Gathering Event .
and abilities to succeed as entrepreneurs and lift others .
The Evermos ecosystem goes hand-in-hand with local SMEs , whose products will be sold by the resellers . Twenty-two strong women scaled out their business as SME owners .
Being the enabler of this vast ecosystem , Evermos signed a commitment with UN Women ’ s Women ’ s Empowerment Principles ( WEPs ) programme . Evermos supports gender equality and empowers women in the workplace , business , and community through the agreement .
Margareth , co-founder and Head of Operations Evermos said : “ To accomplish the goal of empowering women that spans the entire ecosystem at Evermos , this is a first important step . We start small within ourselves and expand from there .”
Briefs
Uzbek ‘ buy now , pay later ’ Islamic finance start-up raises US $ 1m funding
IMAN , an Uzbek company , providing ‘ buy now , pay later ’ services compliant with Islamic finance rules , has raised over US $ 1 million from a group of venture capital investors , aiming to grow in Central Asia ’ s most populous nation .
The former Soviet republic ’ s underdeveloped fintech market has attracted the attention of foreign players such as Georgia ’ s largest banking group TBC Bank , which has set up a digital bank in the country of 35 million . IMAN ’ s founders said they wanted to capitalise on the strong preference for halal products among Uzbekistan ’ s predominantly Muslim population and replicate the business model in other countries such as Pakistan .
“ Our concept is building a halal Klarna ,” IMAN Founder and Chief Financial Officer Mark Zubov said , referring to a Swedish fintech firm .
IMAN said that investors in the seed round included Battery Road Digital Holdings , MyAsiaVC , Le Mercier ’ s Capital , Block0 and Vector Crypto Capital .
Indonesia optimistic of halal ecosystem driving the national economy
AN official from the Ministry of Religious Affairs expressed optimism that the halal ecosystem in Indonesia would become one of the engines of national economic growth to realise the vision of an advanced Indonesia .
“ We are optimistic that the halal industry and ecosystem would become one of the core engines of economic growth ,” Head of the Religious Affairs Ministry ’ s Halal Product Assurance Agency ( BPJPH ), Aqil Irham , noted in a written statement on Wednesday .
This aspiration aligns with President Joko Widodo ’ s target to realise Indonesia as a global hub for the halal industry by 2024 , Irham noted .
Irham believes that the efforts to realise these achievements were far from easy . However , he ensured that the target could be achieved through synergy among all stakeholders .
“ Hence , a clear and targeted program is needed along with concrete actions to realise the halal ecosystem chain in Indonesia ,” he noted .
Indonesia Introduces new halal certification mark to replace MUI label
THE Indonesian Government has introduced a new halal certification logo with a minister stating that the present label from the Indonesian Ulema Council ( MUI ) will eventually be declared void by the Stateappointed regulatory body .
Since taking office in 2014 , President Joko “ Jokowi ” Widodo has been working on a new halal system in a country with the world ’ s largest Muslim population , without upending trade and hampering investment .
“ The halal certification label from the MUI will be declared void in the foreseeable future ,” Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas wrote on his Instagram account .
“ Halal certification , as the law says , is organised by the government , not a community organisation .”
The issuance of the new label will be the most significant step in the long and complicated transition as customers and producers will soon notice a shift in the country ’ s halal system .