Logistics
Halal industry needs cold chain institute
By Zurinna Raja Adam, Business Times
Jul 6, 2006, 08:57

MALAYSIA should set up a cold chain institute to lead other countries in the logistics segment of the lucrative halal industry.

Due to the growing Muslim population and higher demand for halal products, the industry is creating entirely new sectors like warehousing, packaging, shipping and outsourcing.

MDS Logistic managing director Ir Marco Tieman suggested industry players take up the initiative and pilot a halal supply chain management procedure that is endorsed by the Government.

The institute will look into matters concerning the halal supply chain management. This way, other countries can set Malaysia as an example.

So far, port operator Westports Malaysia and shipping firm MISC Bhd and cold storage service provider Haisan Resources Bhd have undertaken the lead by initiating halal logistics management.

Elsewhere, major ports like Rotterdam in the Netherlands opened a halal products gateway last February.

"The world is already looking at Malaysia for the implementation of MS1500:2004. With the right approach, it is not impossible for other countries to look at how the country manage its halal supply chain," Tieman said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The MS1500:2004, which is the Malaysian standard for halal products, was introduced two years ago as general guidelines for the production, preparation, handling and storage of halal food products. It has been proposed to be a global standard for halal goods.

Tieman will be one of the speakers at the second Malaysia Agro-Bio Business Conference 2006 which is held in conjunction with the seventh Malaysia International Food and Beverage Trade Fair 2006 (MIFB 2006).

He will be presenting a prelude to his PhD research on the "Effective Control of Halal Agriculture Supply Chain".

The agriculture and biotechnology conference will be held for two days on July 13-14 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

All 17 speakers will address various issues concerning agriculture, biotechnology, biodiesel and halal industry.

Targeted at entrepreneurs, decision makers in companies, academicians, and research and development professionals, the conference hopes to attract 150 participants.

Meanwhile, MIFB this year is expected to record a 10 per cent sales growth after registering RM25 million sales last year. To be held in PWTC from July 13-15, the fair is expected to attract more than 14,000 visitors.

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