Asia Pacific
Brunei experts give overview on local halal market
By Borneo Bulletin
Aug 12, 2006, 18:33

Experts give overview on local halal market

By Kartika Rahman

The International Halal Products Expo (IHPE) 2006 yesterday saw the presentation of papers by four leading local experts of the industry to give a Brunei Halal Market overview.

First was Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin, Deputy Mufti of the Mufti Department at the Prime Minister's Office, who spoke on The Concept of Halal Food, noting that thoroughness, caution and consistency are necessary when defining and assessing what is halal.

This was followed by a talk on Brunei Halal Premium Brand, Developing a Halal Brand for Global Market, by Hajah Normah Suria Hayati bte PJDSM Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Haji Awang Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

The deputy director said, "Halal products certified by Brunei Premium Halal Brand would combine the internationally certified safe, fresh and quality products from other countries with the stringent halal credentials of Brunei."

Brunei Premium Halal Brand targets a global market, especially that of high halal sensitivity, with plans to penetrate the global halal market through two phases: Phase one - GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries, and phase two - western countries, she said.

Brunei Halal Certification offers credibility by being under the control of the government, having a controlling body (Brunei Religious Council), existence of an Act, a proper auditing system, and the presence of enforcement mechanisms.

Pengiran Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Director of Religious Council, Ministry of Religious Affairs, touched on the rigorousness and process of Halal Ceritification Procedure in Brunei Darussalam.

IHPE Plenary session 1 ended with a talk on 'Halal Food from the Academic Perspective' by Dr Hj Ibrahim Hj Abdul Rahman, Deputy Dean (Science), Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

© Copyright 2006 by halaljournal.com