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Last Updated: Jun 25th, 2007 - 17:07:26 |
Background
The need for Halal consumer protection
The world in the 21st century is the world without border, implicitly not only information, trade, services but also belief, culture, and religion. Protective mechanisms within each society to preserve itself from other societal influence or pervasion are crucial to the sustenance of genuineness and integrity of that society.
Food and consumer goods in Islamic society known as Halal products are considered the frontline of the public goods to preserve Islamic culture. This might be ignored by many and thus during recent years some critical events revealed and indicated problems that would shake Islamic society in a way one may not anticipate if competitive measures are not developed.
Halal science: the missing link
Halal science is the new term that indicates the integration of Islamic law (Shariah) and science. Considering Thailand's situation with majority of people as non-Muslims, the issue of contamination of prohibited substances in Islamic law is to be taken care of by utilizing advanced science and technology as a tool for inspection and analysis of even trace amounts of contamination which is essential and crucial to assure that Halal requirements are met. These technologies are rather advanced but still essential to increase competitiveness of food exporters as well as for consumer protection.
To fulfill and facilitate the knowledge building and sharing as well as to reduce cost of technologies it needs global cooperation. Halal science then could be reckoned as very timely intervention while the consumer protection of Halal products is desperately needed. One such example is the country implementation of the long established "General Guidelines for Use of the Term Halal" which is Codex Global Standard (CAC/GL 24-1997) adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission in July 1997 is scarce. The hope of assurance that Muslim consumers and culture be protected among the competition of Halal and non-Halal products is still far from reality. Raising Halal science issue would help reflect the importance of utilizing and integrating science to religious concern, the missing link to be fulfilled.
The Royal Thai Government has given high priority to Halal food issues, drafting Halal roadmap, and supporting the Halal Science Center and other related organizations as an instrument to assure Halal food standard by high-performance laboratory. This atmosphere creates an appropriate floor for Thailand to host an international meeting for experience sharing and drawing international science collaboration. This will pave the way to make Halal science flourish for progress in Halal products consumer protection.
The Halal Science Center (HASCI) situated in Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand has been involved in Halal matters in both technical and policy decision issues for more than 10 years. It aims to improve the quality, safety as well as religious criteria of Muslim foods and serves as a pioneer in assisting the Halal food industry towards the international food safety standards, i.e. the GMP and HACCP.
In addition, the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences is responsible for a graduate program in bachelor curriculum in "Nutrition and Dietetics" the first of its kind in Thailand, launched in 2005 and this program contains subject in science and technology for Halal food service and production which is unique and could draw international attention on such innovative approach.
This brings up the concept of Halal Food - Halal Nutrition to be the main theme of this symposium. HASCI is also determined to disseminate and facilitate knowledge sharing on research and development as well as to assist in establish the network of Halal science laboratories at the international level for the benefits of consumer protection of Muslim and non-Muslim community as well as for the merit of science.
Recently HASCI was granted the Halal Journal Award of Best Innovation in Halal Industry. The award was granted by the Prime Minister of Malaysia during the opening of the World Halal Forum.
Objectives:
- To provide an international forum on research and development in the area of Halal science, i.e. to explore, exchange and integrate knowledge about Halal science, and to generate new insights for Halal science in various settings of the world.
- To act as a forum for Halal scientific laboratory international networking.
- To explore the outcomes of relevant surveillance, databases related to Halal inspection.
- To share of opinions and best practices in establishment of Halal-GMP/HACCP system for food manufacturers, restaurants and other businesses.
- To project into current and future needs for education and training involving Halal science.
HASCI will convene a two-day international symposium in cooperation with the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, and the Nutrition Association of Thailand under Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and Food and Nutrition Partnership of Thailand during 1-2 September 2006.
Venue and Accommodation:
The symposium will be held at the BITEC Convention Center, Bangna, Bangkok, Thailand.
For those who wish to make room reservation, please directly contact the hotel and book in advance. For special room rate please refer to “Nutrition Association of Thailand”.
The official hotels for the symposium are:
1. Novotel Bang Na (4-star hotel)
Room incl. ABF + Free shuttle from Hotel – Bitec
Single / Twin Deluxe: Baht 2,830-3,060 per night (~73/~79 US$ per night)
Reservation at tel. 662-3660505. For more info, check out Novotel Bang Na.
2. Avana Hotel (3-star hotel)
Located at the 2nd kilometer of the Bangna-Trad Road at the same side as BITEC and 15 minutes walk to BITEC.
For more info, log on to Avana Hotel or email avana2004@hotmail.com.
Room incl. ABF + Free shuttle from Hotel – Bitec
Standard Room: 950 baht per night ABF 2 persons
Superior Room: 1100 baht per night ABF 2 persons
Suite Room: 1,700 baht per night ABF 2 persons
Special Suite Room: 1,800 baht per night ABF 2 persons
Extra Bed: 450 baht per night
Reservation at tel. 662-7632900 through 99
3. Ambassador Hotel, Sukhumvit Road (4-star hotel)
Located in town not far from shopping center. Transportation to BITEC has to be by Sky Train to Onnut end and then take a shuttle to BITEC.
Room rates incl. ABF: Single room 1,900 Baht, Twin room 2,300 Baht.
For reservations, call 662-2540444 or email salesbkk@amtel.co.th.
For more information, please visit the Symposium website. Please reserve your hotel rooms in advance to ensure room availability.
Website of the symposium:
Retrieval of information of the symposium and registration has to be made on-line by visiting Halal Science.org or Halal Science 2006.
Participants:
The symposium will consist of about 200 participants from Thai and international key players in Halal matters, government, business, religious authority as well as university and graduate students within relevant disciplines.
Expected Outcomes:
As this conference serves as the first international academic meetings focusing on Halal science, this will provide an opportunity to draw multi-stakeholders in Halal science and technology both in Thailand and among international key players to share knowledge on research and development in the area of Halal science, i.e. to explore, exchange and integrate knowledge about Halal science, and to generate new insights for Halal science in various settings of the world.
The organizer hopes that the meeting be utilized as a unique forum for Halal scientific laboratory international networking an international forum. It is hoped that the outcomes from the Symposium will be utilized as a driving forces and will generate fruitful discussion for improvement in the Halal science internationally.
Registration:
Early bird registration until 1 August 2006
Regular participant US$120
Accompanying person US$50
Late registration 2 - 25 August 2006
Regular participant US$150
Accompanying person US$60
Registration fee is not inclusive of bank transfer costs.
Please register only through our online registration system (go to ‘register on-line’ page) at Halal Science.org or Halal Science 2006.
Accompanying person fee is for
• Joining in welcome of the presence of HRH Princess
• Halal Dinner on 2nd September 2006
Contact person and address:
Associate Professor Jongjit Angkatavanich
Halal Science Center c/o Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
Chulalongkorn University
154 Rama I Road
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, THAILAND
Tel 662-2181069 Fax 662-2181064 attn: Assoc.Prof. Jongjit
e-mail: halalsci2006@yahoo.com
Reminder:
Since the timing from now to the symposium is rather short, those who are interested to attend the symposium should reserve the hotel early. Please find details of hotel information in the website of the symposium.
Please also note that the opening of the symposium will be presided over by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn who is so loved and respected by Thai people. So those participants who wish to welcome Her Royal Highness should dress in formal and polite.
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