Guidelines For Global Halal Industry

In a significant development at the Global Halal and Islamic Business Forum, held in conjunction with the Halal World Expo in Abu Dhabi, international delegates have given their full backing to a set of recommendations poised to shape the future of the global Halal industry. These recommendations, proposed by the Gulf Standards Authority, aim to harmonize Halal industry guidelines worldwide, marking a pivotal moment for the sector.

The forum’s consensus led to the announcement by the Kuwait Municipality of plans to form a committee dedicated to establishing guidelines aligned with the Muslim World League’s standards for Halal slaughter and food production. This initiative underscores a commitment to ensuring that Halal practices are uniformly applied across the globe, particularly concerning foodstuffs imported into the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

A key proposal from the forum is the establishment of centralized monitoring offices. These offices, in collaboration with recognized Islamic centers, are set to enforce Halal protocols globally, ensuring that all food imports into the GCC adhere to strict Halal standards.

Prominent figures like Khalid Sharif Awadi from the Dubai Municipality, Dr. Amin Mohamed Yousef, a UAE Food Safety Consultant, and Dr. Abdulla Ahmed Abdulla Ali from Bahrain’s Ministry of Health lent their expertise to the discussions, highlighting the forum’s role as a confluence of influential voices in the Halal industry.

The newly formed committee will be tasked with several critical responsibilities, including the development and implementation of educational programs for manufacturers on approved Halal slaughter and processing guidelines. Additionally, the committee is expected to advocate for a mandate that would prohibit the sale of Haram (forbidden) foods, such as pork and alcohol, across all Muslim-majority countries in the GCC.

This move was met with widespread approval from forum delegates and was chaired by Abdalhamid David Evans, managing director of Imarat Consultants. A resolution to recommend these guidelines to the GCC authorities was unanimously passed, underscoring the collective ambition to drive forward the global Halal industry’s standards and integrity.

Abdalhamid David Evans remarked on the forum’s significance, stating, “The Halal industry needs this kind of platform to discuss vital issues affecting businesses throughout the world. The discussions here will have a direct impact on the growth and direction of the global Halal industry. What happens in the Middle East will have an immediate knock-on effect on standards around the world.”

This forum’s outcomes signal a unified stride towards global consistency in Halal certification and practices, potentially transforming the landscape of the Halal industry and setting a precedent for future international collaborations.