GOVT’S 5 STEPS TO BOOST HALAL ECOSYSTEM
Efforts include producing more professionals and speeding up certification process
THE government is mobilising five important agendas from next year to 2020 to boost the halal ecosystem in the country. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the agendas included empowering the Halal Professional Board at the international level to produce more professionals in the halal field.
“We will also set up an International Halal Authority Board to standardise the authorities in global halal certification and form a Halal International Research Academy.
“Other efforts include creating a Malaysia Halal Academy to improve tech knowledge in the halal industry and establishing a Halal Innovation and Technology Centre to boost creativity and innovation in the industry,” he said after chairing the Malaysia Halal Council meeting yesterday.
Present were Ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar.
Zahid said the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) would expand the Halal Fast Force programme in all states to expedite and standardise the halal certification process.
He said the programme, which started in August last year, was being expanded in stages.
“Since the establishment of the Malaysia Halal Council on June 8 last year, short- and long-term initiatives have been implemented to support the halal industry.
“This includes improving the halal certification process through the Halal Fast Force.
“In the first five months of this year, we have received 977 applications for halal certification, 966 of which have been approved by Jakim.”
The council had also decided that Malaysia would join the Board of Directors of the Standard and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) starting this year.
The decision was in line with the government’s active role in the development of global halal standards and accreditation.
“The SMIIC national committee, led by the Standards Department under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, will be the coordinating agency for all programmes under SMIIC for Malaysia,” Zahid said.
He said the council also recognised the proposal for a blueprint to empower Bumiputeras in the halal industry. The blueprint would be streamlined with the Bumiputera Wellbeing Transformation and Bumiputera Economic Transformation Roadmap.
At the meeting, seven papers were presented by Jakim and the International Trade and Industry and Science, Technology and Innovation ministries.
Matters discussed included the council’s direction until 2020; a plan to develop a blueprint on empowering Bumiputeras in the halal industry; strengthening Malaysia’s participation in the field of standards and accreditation in the international halal industry; and, improving the halal certification service delivery.
The meeting also discussed the report from the 2017 Halal Industry Dialogue Session; the progress of the development framework to implement the halal initiative in industries; and the new Halal Industry Masterplan framework.