Newswrap (June 2023) - Halal Industry

Editor's note: It has been a promising month for the halal industry space, with prominent countries across the world making headlines. 

Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia and Indonesia, have signed an agreement to aid the unfettered entry of domestic halal products in both countries. Saudi Arabia, the Arab world's biggest economy, aims to plough as much as $20 million in its food industry to underpin key sectors, while its sovereign wealth fund also intends to expand the local halal space.

In other parts of the world, Russia is banking on halal products to underpin its exports, while Australia's religious body lends its verdict on controlled atmospheric stunning.

Trade Developments – Malaysia / Indonesia
Malaysia-Indonesia cooperation facilitates halal products to enter both markets 
Malaysia and Indonesia have inked a memorandum of cooperation (MoC), permitting unrestricted entry of halal products, certified by either nation, into each other's markets.

The agreement recognises the certification bodies in both Southeast Asian countries - Malaysia's Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) and Indonesia's Halal Product Assurance Organising Agency (BPJPH), and will lead strategic cooperation between the nations in wider halal management. (Borneo Today) (June 8, 2023)

Trade Developments – Russia
Russian poultry groups increasingly rely on halal to boost exports 
Russia's halal food exports are witnessing a significant upswing, fostering hopes for an increase in poultry sales abroad. 

Cherkizovo Group, Russia's top meat producer, anticipates an imminent approval for exporting poultry and livestock products to Malaysia, a potential hotspot for halal products, this year. (Poultry World) (June 23, 2023)

Trade Developments – Malaysia
The first official export of Hanwoo (Korean beef) to Malaysia begins 
South Korea has celebrated its first official export of Hanwoo beef to Malaysia, despite a domestic outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease.

The export could proceed due to the Korean government's proactive and transparent information sharing about the outbreak. Government officials, including the Deputy Minister for Food policy office & coordination, Kim Jung-hee, and CEO of Livestock Economy, Ahn Byeong-woo, attended the ceremony. (Malaysia Kini) (July 2, 2023)

Company News – Saudi Arabia
Saudi's PIF-owned HPDC & Tanmiah in deal to expand local halal market 
The Halal Products Development Company (HPDC), owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund - Public Investment Fund (PIF), has tied up with Tanmiah Food Company to reinforce and localise the halal industry in the kingdom, while also fostering its growth regionally and globally.

The strategic partnership will utilise HPDC's consultancy services to aid exporters and investors in obtaining halal certification and standard qualification, both domestically and internationally. (GCC Business) (June 18, 2023)

Company News – Saudi Arabia
Saudi sovereign wealth fund launches Lifera to boost pharma manufacturing locally 
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), has launched the Pharmaceutical Investment Co. (Lifera), aimed at producing drugs and forging partnerships with local and international firms.

Lifera's purpose is to bolster the kingdom's resilience and advance its ambition to become a global pharmaceutical manufacturing hub. (Zawya) (June 19, 2023)

Company News – Brazil
Companies from Brazil’s Pará join Halal Brazil Project 
Firms from Pará, a northern state of Brazil, have joined the Halal Brazil Project following an event organised by the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The project, launched by the aforementioned entities, aims to underpin the global presence of halal-certified industries and foster Brazilian export to a gamut of countries. 

Companies such as Fitobel, Bellamazon Açaí, and Apeú Polpas, which sell honey-based products and fruit pulps, are among the entities interested in the initiative. (ANBA) (June 29, 2023)

Regulatory – Australia
Australia's religious body deems CAS unsuitable for Halal poultry 
The Australian Fatwa Council has ruled that the method of controlled atmospheric stunning (CAS) in its present form is not suitable for Halal consumption under Islamic laws and principles. The council was established by the Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) - an central, Islamic body established in 2006. 

This decision followed an assessment requested by the ANIC, of CAS pre-stunning in poultry. (Poultry World) (June 15, 2023)

Regulatory – USA
Bill proposed in Texas to provide Muslim students with halal food 
A bill, introduced by Suleman Lalani, an American politician and medical doctor who represents district 76 of the Texas House of Representatives, proposes provision of halal breakfast and lunch in all schools across Texas.

Currently, some Muslim students face challenges finding halal options in school cafeterias, often settling for insufficient or quickly depleted vegetarian meals. (IQNA) (June 17, 2023)

Investment – Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia targets $20bn food industry investment: Ministry 
Saudi Arabia is preparing for a $20 billion surge in its food industry by 2035, according to the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef.

The funds will mainly boost the poultry, dairy, bakery, sweets, beverages, and juices sectors. The move aligns with Saudi Arabia's National Industry Strategy, which aims to double agricultural exports from $3.7 billion in 2022 to $10.9 billion in 2035. (Arab News) (June 13, 2023)

Investment – Saudi Arabia
Saudi Agricultural Development Fund approves $400m to improve farm productivity. 
Saudi Arabian farmers have secured SR1.5 billion ($400 million) in funding after the Agricultural Development Fund approved a series of development loans.

The funding benefits small farmers engaged in greenhouse vegetable production, poultry breeding, and fish and shrimp farming, along with refrigeration warehouses and date manufacturing and marketing centres. (Arab News) (June 20, 2023)

ESG developments – UAE & Global
Sacrificial meat project benefits 500,000 in UAE, 48 other nations. 
The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) has benefited 500,000 individuals via its sacrificial meat project, which aimed to combat food scarcity in the UAE and abroad.

Of these beneficiaries, 100,000 were in the UAE, with the remaining 400,000 present across 48 other countries. The ERC delivered the sacrificial meat during the Eid Al Adha festival to underprivileged families via tie-ups with international charities and humanitarian organisations for distribution. (Gulf Today) (July 1, 2023)

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Malaysia International Food and Beverage Trade Show – Malaysia – July 12-14, 2023

Halal Expo Manchester International Halal Trade Exhibition – Manchester, UK – July 14-15, 2023

Food Manufactuing Indonesia – Indonesia – Aug 23-25, 2023

Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) 2023 – Malaysia – Sep 12-15, 2023

Bahrain Halal Expo 2023 – Bahrain – Oct 5-7, 2023

Saudi International Halal Expo & Summit 2023 – Riyadh, KSA – Nov 19-21, 2023

World Halal Summit 2023 – Istanbul, Turkiye – Nov 23-25, 2023

Halal Expo London 2023 – London, UK – Dec 1-2, 2023

Halal Indonesia Expo 2023 – Indonesia – Dec 8-10, 2023