Halal is a term that refers to something that is allowed and permissible for consumption with relation to Syariah law as long as they are safe and not intoxicated. The opposite of halal is haram or non-halal which means forbidden and prohibited under the Syariah law.
Food that is halal is under the obligation JAKIM’s guidelines. For instances halal food that does not contain pork and alcohol. Besides that, animals have to be properly slaughter in correct methods that are save to consume.
Why we need halal food in Malaysia and how to ensure the effectiveness of halal?
Halal food should be viewed as a kind of universal food, which is suited for consumption for everyone in the world not only for muslim. Meat and food productions based on Shariah law have also commercial advantages to us in term of health and revenue.
Malaysia consists of various races, religions and cultures that living together as a whole. Halal does not really refer to Islamic only but to other non-Islamic as well. The halal implementation is applied to all that is to ensure cleanliness that is always practice in our daily lives. Other than that, food safety also acts a significant role in assuring quality, safe, clean and nutritious aspects of the food. Therefore, to control the halal food thoroughly we should have governed by laws and also authorities that supervise and control the halal food production in Malaysia.
Malaysia is the first country to develop an exhaustive halal standard since year 2000 under Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM). In order for us to build up and create a halal hub image in Malaysia, we need to work hand to hand with various bodies locally and also globally. In other countries there are controls by their own Islamic authorities department to ensure the effectiveness and cleanliness of food to be consumed by muslim.
Apparently, halal products are expanding throughout the world not only in Islamic regions but also in non-Islamic regions. The importance of halal products cannot belittle in our society nowadays as we should sensitive and respect other people who are different from our religions, races and cultures. Some major issues arise to become halal food hub which are the
raw material outsourcing for secondary processing,
understanding on the needs of local industry, halal food market – what products and where,
quality requirements and quality assurance system of halal food,
harmonization of regulation and enforcement activities,
export promotion strategy,
issue of competitiveness: in What Product We are Competitive?
Below is some of the authorised and qualified bodies that control and supervise halal food in worldwide.
