Bosnia & Herzegovina’s halal sector sees growing certifications and market expansion
Around 15 to 20 companies complete the halal certification process in B&H every year and some 9,000 products have been certified with food exports to over 30 countries.
Novi Sad, Serbia: Halal food producers from Bosnia & Herzegovina (B&H) are increasing their competitiveness in European regional and worldwide food markets. The country, which has 3.2 million inhabitants – more than half of whom are Muslims – established the Agency for Halal Quality Certification in 2006, founded and fully owned by the Islamic Community of Bosnia & Herzegovina Islamic Community and registered with the B&H Justice Ministry.
Agency director Damir Alihodžić said that the reaction of consumers to certified halal products in B&H has been very positive. According to a survey by Sarajevo-based marketing firm Global Market Solutions, 75% of Bosnians felt products should always be labelled halal, 23.3% believed halal labels should be optional and only 1.7% said they would not buy halal-labelled products, according to Alihodžić.
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Zlatko Čonkaš