Certification
U.S.A: MonoSol Achieves Halal Certification
MonoSol, LLC proudly announces that the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA) certify that MonoSol MonoDose™ films are Halal and thereby suited for use by Muslims. Under Islamic dietary guidelines, Halal products are deemed ‘permissible’ for consumption and contact by practicing Muslims. “We’re pleased to achieve this distinction,” said MonoSol CEO P. Scott Bening. “IFANCA’s certification acknowledges our products as conforming to the Halal dietary and contact standards of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims.” Although Halal is a universal concept applied to all facets of Islamic life, Halal certification is compliance of consumables meant for Muslim use. Halal certification is granted only when a product demonstrates alignment with Islamic dietary guidelines. Restrictions include prohibition against contact with pork (and their by-products), alcohol, intoxicants, as well as carnivorous and improperly slaughtered animals. Additionally, Halal products must not be processed in a manner that allows contamination with any prohibited items.
AUSTRALIA: Academic talking bull bust on Indonesia
A Brisbane-based academic is pushing for stun guns to be issued to every Indonesian abattoir by the Australian Government to ensure live-export cattle are slaughtered humanely. Dr Patricia Paterson says when she put the idea to industry associations last night she received a lukewarm response. She says pastoralists would not be out of pocket if the Gillard Government accepted responsibility for issuing the stun guns to get the trade back up and running.
Filed Under: Slaughter
USA: UEP & HSUS proposed first federal law to address treatment of animals on farms
The Humane Society of the United States and the United Egg Producers announce an unprecedented agreement to work together toward the enactment of comprehensive new federal legislation for all 280 million hens involved in U.S. egg production. The proposed standards advocated by UEP and HSUS, if enacted, would be the first federal law addressing the treatment of animals on farms.
Filed Under: Science
UNITED KINGDOM: Non-stun Halal
Members of the Halal meat industry have formed a new association non-stun Abattoir owner. Mohammed Akram Gill (Director of Pak Mecca Meats Birmingham) and the chairman of Association of Non-Stun Abattoirs Ltd said “This was long overdue the non-stun Halal industry was without a voice. “The lack of industry leadership and cooperation, especially given the state of the current economy the association aims to create and raise awareness of the Halal industry according to the teaching of the Quran and the prophetic tradition. Speaking at the Paragon Hotel Birmingham Ghulam Mustaffa (Premier Halal Meat), said “This is good news for Muslim consumers especially Muslim House wives. The ANSA logo will give them assurance that the meat they will be consuming is truly Halal and is ritually Halal slaughtered according to Islamic principles”.
SAUDI ARABIA: Scholars to analyze Halal food standards at Riyadh conference
The Kingdom will host the first ever international conference on Halal food in the Saudi capital on Feb. 12, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority announced here on Tuesday. Speaking at a press conference held at SFDA headquarters on Tuesday, the organization's Chairman Mohammed Al-Kanhal said Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has consented to offer his patronage to the summit which is to be held for the first time in the Kingdom. Ibrahim Al- Mohizea, vice president of SFDA was also present at the press briefing.
Filed Under: Standards
UNITED KINGDOM: Ansa Regrets Dutch decision
ANSA (Association of Non Stun Abattoirs) has expressed dismay at the decision of the Dutch lower parliament to pass a law that would ban ritual slaughter in accordance with both Jewish law, known as shechita, and Muslim law, known as Halal.ANSA spoke person Mohammed Saleem said "This is a retrograde step that contravenes Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights which provides all citizens a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. It is against all concepts of democracy, tolerance and freedom of rights. It absolutely sends the wrong message about Europe to the rest of the world, and especially the Muslim world. In a time of worldwide upheaval and troubled relations between the West and Muslims, this is a dangerous move that could provoke a backlash. Politicians especially need to exercise their democratically given powers with much more care and attention to consequences."
Filed Under: Slaughter
Australia lifts ban on live cattle exports to Indonesia
Australia resumed its $350 million a year live cattle trade with Indonesia on Wednesday (6 July 2011) following a temporary ban over cruelty concerns. Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig said he was confident that Indonesian slaughterhouses meet Australian animal welfare standards. The government banned exports to Indonesia last month after an outcry over a video that aired in Australia showing animals screaming and writhing as they were slaughtered. "The Australian community made it clear it would not support a trade in which these things occurred," Ludwig told reporters on Wednesday. "I want to make it clear the decision to suspend the trade was not an easy decision to make, but it was the right decision." Under the new system, slaughterhouses will have to prove they meet animal welfare guidelines. Ludwig said tracking and transparency in the cattle supply chain will also be improved.
AUSTRALIA: Shooting the messenger (ABC) over Indonesian balls up
Producers of the ABC Four Corners program, which sparked the suspension of live exports to Indonesia, will have their controversial animal cruelty footage from Indonesian abattoirs, heavily scrutinised, during the Federal Senate’s upcoming inquiry into the live export trade. Raised by the Australian Greens earlier this month in the wake of the ABC Four Corners program, the Federal Senate will investigate inhumane treatment of Australian animals in Indonesia and the live export trade more broadly, with the inquiry to be chaired by vibrant Liberal rural NSW Senator, Bill Heffernan.
Filed Under: Slaughter / Animal Welfare
AUSTRALIA: The Halal/ Kosher debate on ritual slaughter
Debate surrounding the ritual slaughter of animals in Australian abattoirs is hotting up, with animal welfare and livestock groups calling for animal welfare to be paramount in slaughtering. This comes after it was revealed last week that nine South Australian abattoirs have government approval to kill sheep while they are still conscious, in line with Islamic and Jewish religious custom. SAFF livestock committee chairman Andrew Ogilvie said while it was important to be sensitive to others' religious requirements, animal welfare should be paramount before slaughter.
Filed Under: Slaughter
MALAYSIA: Islamic Religious Councils Advised To Set Up Own Abattoirs
State Islamic religious councils have been advised to set up their own abattoirs to ensure confidence among Muslims that meat and poultry slaughter processes were truly Halal. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Major-General (Rtd) Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said the respective councils could achieve this by forming a subsidiary company or by cooperating with other companies. He said there were still people who questioned the Halal status of slaughtered poultry.