Why is Halal food in Europe less organized than its food safety standards?

Unlike Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, Halal food in Europe is not as well organized compared with food and product safety standards. When Muslim countries introduce new Halal standards and strengthen certification requirements, some European exporters find it increasingly difficult to comply with the new rules, and European governments also view these new rules as barriers hindering their trade with Muslim countries.

What are the four stages of development of the Halal industry?

The four stages are: (1) Muslim companies (trust between buyer and seller); (2) Halal products (certification of raw materials and production processes by certification bodies); (3) Halal supply chain (all links in the supply chain required to be Halal); (4) Halal value chain (handled by a single company throughout). Many European and Muslim countries are in the second stage, while Malaysia and Indonesia are moving toward the third stage (Halal supply chain), with corresponding standards released such as HAS 23000:2012 (Indonesia), MS 2400:2010 (Malaysia) and the international Halal logistics standard IHIAS 0100:2010.

Halal Europe

Europe is a major export source of food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals for Muslim countries in Asia and the Middle East.

Unlike Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, Halal food in Europe is not as well organized compared with the safety standards for food and products.

When Muslim countries introduce new Halal standards and strengthen their certification requirements, some exporters in European countries also find it increasingly difficult to comply with the new Halal rules. European governments also view these new rules as barriers hindering their trade with Muslim countries.

Does this reflect their lack of understanding of Halal, or do they have a valid argument?

The Halal industry currently has the following four stages of development:

(1) Muslim companies (trust between buyer and seller);

(2) Halal products (certification of raw materials and production processes by Halal certification bodies);

(3) Halal supply chain (all links in the supply chain are required to be Halal);

(4) Halal value chain (handled by a single company).

Currently, many European and Muslim countries are in the second stage of this evolution, mainly focusing on the raw material source and production process of products.

In contrast, Malaysia and Indonesia are moving toward developing a stronger Halal supply chain (stage 3). This is a new requirement for the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

This requirement aims to provide consumers with a complete view of the above-mentioned Muslim market from the perspective of consumer purchasing.

This operation aligns with the release of some standards involving Halal supply chain management, such as Indonesia (HAS 23000:2012), Malaysia (MS 2400:2010) and the international Halal logistics standard (IHIAS 0100:2010).

This means that Halal and its rules are not static but dynamic.

FAQ

Why is Halal food in Europe less organized than its food safety standards?: Unlike Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand, Halal food in Europe is not as well organized compared with food and product safety standards. When Muslim countries introduce new Halal standards and strengthen certification requirements, some European exporters find it increasingly difficult to comply with the new rules, and European governments also view these new rules as barriers hindering their trade with Muslim countries.
What are the four stages of development of the Halal industry?: The four stages are: (1) Muslim companies (trust between buyer and seller); (2) Halal products (certification of raw materials and production processes by certification bodies); (3) Halal supply chain (all links in the supply chain required to be Halal); (4) Halal value chain (handled by a single company throughout). Many European and Muslim countries are in the second stage, while Malaysia and Indonesia are moving toward the third stage (Halal supply chain), with corresponding standards released such as HAS 23000:2012 (Indonesia), MS 2400:2010 (Malaysia) and the international Halal logistics standard IHIAS 0100:2010.

FAQ

Related