Australia: A reliable and trusted source of high quality, guaranteed halal beef and lamb
Arecent report published by the World Halal Forum, states that global trade in halal food is currently estimated to be worth around $700 billion annually, with the halal food industry in the Middle East alone worth about $20 billion.
There is an ever-growing demand for halal food products given the steady growth of Muslim population across the world. The halal market is currently worth 16 percent of the entire global food industry and is predicted to rise to 20 percent in the near future.
You don’t have to look very far in the GCC to find Australian meat gracing retail shelves. As a nation, Australia has been sending their best meat products to the region for decades. Saudi Arabia, specifically imports 17 percent of its beef, and 62 percent of its sheep meat, from Australia.
Australia, with a local Muslim population of about half a million, has become a world leader in the processing and preparation of halal meat and meat products. The continent is a long trusted supplier of Halal Beef and Lamb to over 100 countries in the world, including Saudi Arabia and most countries in the Middle East.
A cycle of trust from farm to plate
Mark Morley, Senior Trade Commissioner of Austrade had this to say: “Saudi Arabia is conscious of the need to provide its citizens with clean, fresh and safe meat product. Particularly, Saudi Arabia needs to know they can trust Australia’s halal certification. Australia has one of the most robust and traceable food certification standards in the world. We are free of many exotic diseases that are common in other parts of the world. As an isolated island, we have one of the strictest regimes for quarantine, which means that Saudi citizens can trust us when we say ‘this meat is halal”.
Australia’s halal meat enjoys a reputation for excellence and strict adherence to sharia law. Sharia law states how the animal must be treated during its whole life and not just during slaughter. It emphasizes zero tolerance of animal abuse and mistreatment, and stipulates that animals must be provided with enough space to roam, clean water, food and fresh air.
The Master Chef’s first choice:
Master Chef Tarek, the first master chef from the Middle East, is clearly impressed by the quality of Australian meat. He stated ‘During my last visit to Australia, I was amazed by the strict standards of the Australian farms and slaughter houses. Every halal guideline is carefully adhered to and the halal slaughter is supervised and certified by Islamic organizations and societies working under the Australian Government Authorized Halal Program. You can confidently enjoy your food knowing that that when you buy Australian Halal Beef and Lamb, you are getting clean, safe and 100 percent guaranteed halal meat!
Australia’s commitment to quality assurance and food safety begins on thousands of farms across Australia. For Australian farmers, animal welfare is their number one priority. Most of the farms are family owned and animals are raised with tender, loving care. Animal welfare is a way of life in Australia.
Stress free, well cared for animals give the best quality meat. Australia has invested millions of dollars in research and development in meat science and understands that healthy, well fed stress free livestock produce the best quality meat for all consumers to enjoy.
Australia’s livestock are raised in a natural clean environment, with fresh air, golden sunlight and large areas of lush green pastures. Around half of the land area of Australia is perfect for raising lamb and cattle naturally, with easy access to green grass, fresh water and clean air. Since Australia is an island continent, it is also naturally quarantined against diseases that usually spread amongst animals in other countries.
One of the strictest halal programs in the world
The Muslim market is very important to Australian meat companies, and each company has documented procedures to ensure halal slaughtering and processing requirements are implemented at all stages of production. All Australian meat processing operations exporting to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East must have a registered Australian Government Authorized Halal Program - this is a collaborative program between Islamic Societies and the Australian government.
Standards of hygiene are monitored frequently and management must have an approved quality assurance program to ensure they comply with overseas country requirements. Facilities must be inspected and accepted as suitable for Halal slaughter and production. All inspections are carried out by recognized Islamic organizations and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
For meat to be identified as halal, the animals must be slaughtered by a Muslim in accordance with the requirements of the Islamic law. The Muslim slaughter men must carry an official permit with photo ID. Halal and non-halal beef and lamb must be adequately separated and identified at all times. For all exports, only recognized Islamic organizations can certify halal meat and meat products.
To ensure customer specifications and industry standards for accurate description are followed, AUS-MEAT (Authority for Uniform Specifications) accredits all meat premises who wish to export. The system is the industry’s guarantee that the product has undergone effective product quality assurance procedures. Australian meat is transported in sealed shipping containers destined for the many overseas customers. Such integrity of the Australian meat processing systems ensures a cycle of trust, from farm to plate, which has allowed Australia to remain a consistent supplier to Saudi Arabia.