HFC Shariah Committee Chairman Maulana Zeeshan Ali attended a session held on 10 November 2018 at the Maisonette Hotel in Lahore, Pakistan, organized by the Center for Halal Assurance (CeHA), aimed at reshaping the necessary conditions for meeting halal food requirements within Pakistan according to halal guidelines and the Pakistan PS3733 halal certification standard.
This session was organized by CeHA, the Center for Halal Assurance, a Private Limited Company (Pvt. Ltd) registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), with its head office in Lahore (Pakistan) and sub-offices at various local and international locations.
CeHA runs under its Board of Directors and the guidance of its strong Shariah Advisory Board and Shariah Coordinators, comprising more than 20 Shariah experts from across the globe.
The company cooperates with different Islamic seminaries to promote halal consumption globally by offering the expertise and services of world-renowned, experienced and competent Shariah scholars, aiming to provide complete halal product and halal certification solutions to the industry.
CeHA brings a unique blend of relevant qualifications and experience in the Shariah and technical areas. CeHA's comprehensive research team, consisting of qualified nutritionists, food microbiologists and technologists, makes its team stand out.
'This was a very good learning experience for me, and through this session we established very important contacts in the HALAL industry,' concluded Zeeshan Ali. He also introduced to some organizers and participants HFC's mission of 'being committed to upholding halal standards for all our stakeholders globally.'
Experts deliver session presentations on halal food certification and its standards
A total of four session presentations were delivered by the following people:
1. Mufti Suhaib Ashraf (member of the Shariah Board at the Center for Halal Assurance CeHA)
2. Mufti Muaz Ashraf (Managing Director and Director of Shariah at the Center for Halal Assurance CeHA)
3. Mufti Muhammad Qasim (Shariah Advisor / Deputy Manager of the Halal Food Certification Bureau, Bureau Veritas)
4. Mr. Tariq Qamar (Operations Manager at Bureau Veritas). Bureau Veritas is a global leader in testing, inspection and certification, and is a professional body recognized and trusted by most national and international organizations.
Mr. Mufti Suhaib Ashraf outlined the following:
1. The importance of halal;
2. A global perspective on the halal industry (the concepts of halal and non-halal are not limited to food or cosmetics; the concepts of halal tourism, halal business and halal finance are now emerging as well);
3. Terminology of the halal industry;
4. Halal slaughter rules.
Mr. Mufti Muaz Ashraf's presentation was divided into the following points:
1. The 7 basic prohibitions of halal;
2. The distinction between halal and non-halal animals;
3. Halal dietary law;
4. Sensitive ingredients used in pharmaceuticals and bakeries;
5. Sensitive halal issues;
6. Halal regulation rulings on alcohol, artificial meat and genetically modified food;
Mr. Mufti Qasim
outlined the Pakistan PS 3733
halal certification standard.
Mr. Tariq Qamar explained the relevant steps of halal certification:
1. Top management must make a commitment;
2. Essential preparation procedures;
3. A farm-to-table preventive system;
4. Risk assessment;
5. Audit verification;
6. Corrective measures for major non-conforming and minor non-conforming products;
7. Avoiding fraud and deception;
8. Food contamination (partial halal);
9. Halal culture. Tariq Qamar said it is very necessary that the whole organization, from the bottom to top management, has a sense of responsibility for halal-certified food assurance.
PS3733 halal certification standard to be enforced on imported food
During the session and breaks, HFC Shariah Committee Chairman Maulana Zeeshan Ali had the opportunity to hold some discussions with Mufti Muaz, Mufti Qasim and Mufti Suhaib, and further confirmed with the attending expert scholars that in a few months, the Pakistani government would seal its borders, and only those complying with Pakistan's PS3733-2016 halal certification standard would be allowed to import;
In addition, packaging audits will be just as important as product audits; for egg testing, candled eggs are prohibited because they contain blood.
In response to Pakistan's imminent sealing of its borders to all international exporters not certified to the PS3733 halal standard, HFC is considering offering certification services to suppliers complying with the PS3733 halal certification standard. The HFC Shariah Committee has halal jurisprudence experts from Pakistan who are well versed in the PS3733 halal certification standard, thereby helping domestic export enterprises gain maximum benefit from China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) trade. By then, Pakistan's nearly 200 million Muslim consumers will also become another rising new halal food market of the 'Belt and Road.'
HFC Shariah Chairman Attended the Session about Pakistan National Halal Certificate Standards PS3733
HFC Shariah Committee Chairman Maulana Zeeshan Ali attended the session 'UNDERSTANDING HALAL FOOD REQUIREMENTS IN THE LIGHT OF SHARIAH GUIDELINES & PAKISTAN STANDARD PS 3733' held by the Center for Halal Assurance on 10th Nov. 2018 at the Maisonette Hotel, Lahore in Pakistan.
This session was organized by CeHA Center for Halal Assurance. (CeHA) is a Private Limited Company (Pvt. Ltd) registered with Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
It has its head office in Lahore (Pakistan) and sub offices at various local and international locations.
The CeHA runs under its Board of directors and the guidance of its strong Sharia Advisory Board and Sharia Coordinators comprising more than twenty Sharia Experts from across the globe, working with different Islamic Seminaries. The company has been established to promote Halal consumption globally by offering the expertise and services of the worldly renown, experienced and competent Sharia Scholars, who aims to provide complete Halal solutions to the industry.
We bring in a unique blend of relevant qualification and experience in this field of Sharia and technical areas. CeHA comprehensive research team, consisting of qualified Nutritionists, Food Microbiologists Technologists make us stand apart.
'This was a very good learning experience for me and through this session we have some very important contacts in the HALAL industry' concluded by Zeeshan Ali. He also introduced HFC to some the organizers and to the participants as well.
Total four sessions were delivered by following speakers:
1.Mufti Suhaib Ashraf (Member of Shariah Board at Center for Halal Assurance CeHA)
2.Mufti Muaz Ashraf (Managing Director and Director Shariah Center for Halal Assurance CeHA)
3.Mufti Muhammad Qasim(Shariah Advisor/Deputy Manager Halal Food Certification Bureau Veritas)
4.Mr. Tariq Qamar(Manager Operations at Bureau Veritas) Bureau Veritas is aglobal leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC). Bureau Veritas is recognized and accredited by major national and international organizations.
Session # 1 ByMufti Suhaib Ashraf
Mufti Suhaib covered the following outline:
I. Importance of Halal in the Light of Quran and Sunnah
II.Halal industry global perspective (The concept of Halal and haram is not limited to the food or cosmetics. Now halal tourism, halal business, halal finance concepts are emerging as well)
III.Halal industry terminologies
IV.Islamic Slaughtering
Session # 2 ByMufti Muaz Ashraf
Mufti Muaz covered the following outline:
I .7 Basic prohibitions
II. Halal and Haram Animals
III. Shariah Dietary Law
IV. Critical Ingredients used in medicines and Bakery
V. Critical Halal issues
VI. Shariah Rulings for alcohol and artificial meat and GM Food
Session # 3ByMufti Qasim
Mufti Qasim covered the following outline:
PS 3733 standards overview.
Session # 4ByMr. Tariq Qamar
Mr. Tariq covered the following outline by describing the following steps for certification:
I .Top Management (Must be committed)
II. Pre Requisite Program
III. Preventive System (From farm to fork)
IV. Risk Assessment
V . Verification (Audit)
VI. Corrective Actions (major non conformity and
minor non conformity)
VII. Free from Fraud
VIII. Food Contamination (Partial Halal)
IX. Culture (Mr. Tariq Qamar said it is very necessary that whole organization from poen to top management must understand that they are responsible for halal assurance)
Some Important Learning Outcomes:
During the session and during the Breaks HFC Shariah Committee Chairman Zeeshan Ali got a chance to have some discussions with Mufti Muaz, Mufti Qasim and Mufti Suhaib, and got some very important issues as following.
1.In few months Pakistan government is going to seal its borders and no import will be allowed until it follows PS3733-2016 standard. So for Chinese companies want to export Pakistan we may follow PS.
2.Just like product Audit its packaging audit is also very important.
3.For eggs we must also check that candling eggs are not used. Which contains blood.
As Pakistan is going to seal its border for all the international exporters until they got certified as per PS3733, HFC is considering to offer certification as per PS3733 standards, as we have Shariah experts from Pakistan who are well aware of these standards, so our clients can get maximum benefit from CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) trade, and Pakistan will also become the new potential international halal marketing for China exportation suppliers.