IHI Alliance to Harmonise Global Halal Standard

The World Halal Forum 2008 ended on Tuesday with the resolution to adopt the International Halal Integrity Alliance to develop, implement and maintain a global Halal standard and conformity assessment system.

"It is aimed to ensure Halal integrity throughout the whole supply chain, and to play a leading role in assisting Muslim and non-Muslim countries in Halal institutional development and other important areas," said World Halal Forum deputy chairman, Nordin Abdullah to reporters here.

IHI Alliance, a non-profit body, has been formed through resolutions adopted at the two previous World Halal Forums in 2006 and 2007 to ensure integrity throughout the entire Halal supply chain by enhancing and harmonising Halal standards and certification at the global level.

Commenting on the resolution, IHI Alliance chief executive officer, Darhim Hashim said, "IHI Alliance should not be seen as a Malaysian agenda but a global agenda."

"We need expertise, network and excess to key markets and resources. These are all valuable towards harmonising global Halal standards," he added.

Darhim also thanked the Malaysian government for providing some RM15 million over the next three years as funding support to start the IHI Alliance.

"Looking at other initiatives in terms of developing hub or branding exercises, we are talking of hundreds and millions of dollars invested," said Darhim.-- BERNAMA