SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER . 2023 | @ Halal
Focus
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Kompleks Islam , Putrajaya .
beginning , the involvement of religious agencies has been essential in halal certification . Without the industry and the consumers , the significance of halal certification would be in vain , as there would be no one to acknowledge it . Therefore , all three entities have their respective roles to play .
“ One of the government ’ s responsibilities in the context of halal certification is to ensure that , primarily , Muslims enjoy halal-certified food . This halal certification signifies the assurance of its halal status . Thus , it is one of the responsibilities of religious agencies to ensure the well-being of Muslims .
“ Moreover , this phenomenon is not confined to Malaysia alone ; it has spread internationally . Even the global community , not just Muslims , perceives and demonstrates a high demand for halal-certified products due to the assured quality and authenticity that the materials used in these products are genuine .”
Regarding JAKIM ’ s collaboration with halal authorities in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia , Sirajuddin mentioned that the industry frequently inquired about breaking into the international halal market .
He said other countries had followed Malaysia ’ s footsteps , stipulating that a product must possess halal certification if declared halal . On top of that , the certification bodies issuing these halal certificates need to be recognised by the respective country ’ s authorities .
“ Therefore , we are actively working to establish memoranda of cooperation ( MoCs ), a step we have already taken with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia , to ensure and facilitate market access in those respective countries .
These agreements permit products halalcertified by JAKIM to enter those nations .
Without these agreements , industries would need to apply for halal certification in those countries , resulting in additional expenses for market penetration .”
COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
He highlighted the close collaboration between JAKIM , state Islamic religious departments , and the industry . There are frequent roundtable discussions with various sectors , including food and beverages ( F & B ), cosmetics , pharmaceuticals , etc .
Sirajuddin emphasised that the industry was not a singular entity ; it encompasses multiple sectors . Thus , these discussions need to be more strategically planned and conducted bi-monthly .
He also touched upon the role of small-scale industries , such as macro and nano industries , which require guidance , approach , awareness , and training to enable their participation in the global halal market , contributing to the production of Malaysia ’ s halal products and services .
“ We collaborate closely with guiding agencies within the government and leading agencies like Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority ( FAMA ), Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute ( MARDI ), Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority ( RISDA ), Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority ( FELCRA ), and Majlis Amanah Rakyat ( MARA ).
“ Our collaboration with these agencies aims to develop rural micro-industries , which might face challenges in obtaining halal exposure . Hence , in partnership with these agencies , we actively develop the halal industry in these locations .” –
Alhamdulillah , we initiated GHaS in 2019 . GHaS is a halal conference containing several previously held programmes scattered throughout the year - some in January , some in March , May , etc .”
– Sirajuddin Suhaimee