Newswrap (May 2023) - Halal Industry
FamilyMart Malaysia to Open 300 Halal-Certified Stores; The headquarters of the International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA) was officially inaugurated in Dubai; Saudi's SFDA slaps penalties on 17 pharmaceutical firms for violations; Russia Establishes Accredited Agency for Certification of Halal Products; Qatar calls for unified Gulf policy for buying food, pharma products; Bosnia sets sights on Europe for halal food exports.
Company News - Pakistan
Halal meat production, exports Identification, traceability system in livestock discussed. (May 11, 2023)
The Provincial Livestock and Dairy Development Department organized a workshop on the Identification and Traceability System in animals, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Secretary Livestock Masood Anwar emphasized the significance of animal traceability in the halal meat sector. (The News)
Company News – Singapore
Tampines halal street food bazaar causes confusion with stalls selling non-halal food. (May 11, 2023)
A bazaar located near Tampines MRT Station in Singapore has caused confusion among residents as non-halal food was being sold at a halal-only bazaar. The Bazaar Lambak, which promotes itself as selling halal street food, came under scrutiny when visitors noticed stalls selling non-halal items like pork sausages. (Yahoo News)
Company News – Malaysia
Halal-certified Hanwoo Korean beef export to Malaysia will boost bilateral trade. (May 12, 2023)
South Korea's Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs Minister, Chung Hwang Keun, announced that the first halal-certified South Korean Hanwoo beef exports to Malaysia will begin next month. This development is expected to boost bilateral trade between the two countries and encourage South Korea to expand its exports to more Muslim-majority nations. (New Straits Times)
Company News – Malaysia
FamilyMart Malaysia to Open 300 Halal-Certified Stores. (May 15, 2023)
FamilyMart Malaysia's FamiCafé in Menara U, Shah Alam, has become the country's first halal-certified convenience store café, receiving certification from Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM). FamilyMart Malaysia aims to have 300 halal certified FamiCafés by 2025, with existing and new stores following JAKIM's guidelines. (Retail & Leisure International)
Company News – Indonesia
BPJPH, Ministry synergize to accelerate halal product certification. (May 18, 2023)
The Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) and the Co-operatives and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Ministry in Indonesia have pledged to collaborate in expediting halal product certification. The BPJPH offers the free halal certification program (Sehati), which has a quota of one million for 2023. (Antara News)
Company News – UAE
The headquarters of the International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA) was officially inaugurated in Dubai (May 30, 2023)
The headquarters of the International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA) was officially inaugurated in Dubai, UAE. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries, state representatives, and business leaders. HE Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, highlighted the country's commitment to environmental stewardship and food security challenges. (IOFS)
Regulatory – Saudi Arabia
Saudi's SFDA slaps penalties on 17 pharmaceutical firms for violations. (May 15, 2023)
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has acted against 17 pharmaceutical firms for violating the Law of Pharmaceutical Establishments and Preparations. The violations included failure to provide registered pharmaceutical products to the local market, not reporting drug movements in the electronic tracking system, and failing to inform the authority about expected shortages or interruptions in supply. (Zawya)
Regulatory – Qatar
Qatar calls for unified Gulf policy for buying food, pharma products. (May 15, 2023)
During a meeting in Muscat, Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani urged the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to adopt a uniform policy for the acquisition of strategic products, including food and medicine. He emphasized the need to establish a permanent emergency crisis committee and develop a plan to identify alternative imports to address such issues in the future. (Doha News)
Regulatory – Russia
Russia Establishes Accredited Agency for Certification of Halal Products. (May 22, 2023)
Roskachestvo, the Russian food quality regulator, has announced the accreditation of Roskachestvo-Halal, an agency for domestic certification of halal products. Starting in May, the organization will certify the market, with around 100 companies expected to apply for the halal label by year-end. (Halal Focus)
Trade Developments – Saudi Arabia
Islamic Development Bank Group signs MoU with Halal Products Development Company. (May 18, 2023)
The Halal Products Development Company (HPDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to collaborate on promoting opportunities in the halal sector. The agreement aims to strengthen the halal industries in Saudi Arabia and IsDB Group's 57 member countries. (Halal Focus)
Trade Developments - Malaysia
Savills signs MoU with Malaysia’s UM Land for halal manufacturing hub in Johor. (May 19, 2023)
Savills' integrated real estate advisory services (IREAS) has partnered with UM Land, a Malaysian developer, to establish the Iskandar Halal Park in Johor, Malaysia. The park will serve as an international manufacturing hub for halal-related businesses and will include a halal logistics center offering warehousing, cold storage, and transportation services for halal products. (EdgeProp)
Trade Developments – Bosnia-Herzegovina
Bosnia sets sights on Europe for halal food exports. (May 19, 2023)
Bosnia aims to increase exports of its halal certified food products to European markets, taking advantage of its geographic position and the growing Muslim population in Europe. With one of Europe's first agencies for halal quality certification established in 2006, Bosnia has become a regional hub for halal products. (Zawya)
Trade Developments – Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Malaysia sign deal for mutual recognition of halal certification. (May 28, 2023)
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) have signed a memorandum of cooperation to mutually recognize the halal certification of locally manufactured products. (Arab News)
Investment – Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia amps up global food-security push with Brazil poultry deal. (May 31, 2023)
Saudi Arabia is furthering its expansion into the global food industry through a deal to acquire shares of BRF SA, Brazil's largest poultry producer. This move is part of Saudi Arabia's efforts to reduce reliance on oil, diversify its economy, and curb food imports. (Al Arabiya News)
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Penang International Halal Expo & Conference 2023 – Malaysia – June 23-25, 2023
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
