Different Halal certifications in each country cause industry confusion, making it difficult for entrepreneurs to enter the global market.

Kuala Lumpur: The absence of a global Halal standard makes it difficult for Muslim-friendly products to penetrate the world market.

Currently, each country has its own Halal standard, which may or may not accept another country's Halal certification.

According to Mimi Sharimah, assistant product manager of Wardah Malaysia, this is a huge obstacle to overcome. 'When multinational companies try to enter the global Halal market, the different Halal regulations of different countries cause confusion.'

'Although Wardah's cosmetics are certified by Indonesia's MUI and are also accepted by Malaysia's JAKIM, if we want to go out, we would need to obtain Halal certification from different bodies,' Mimi said at the four-day Malaysia Halal Carnival conference held at the Mines International Exhibition Centre in Seri Kembangan (a Malaysian city).

The Malaysia Halal Carnival is considered Southeast Asia's largest Halal trade and consumer expo.

It is a promotional event for Malaysia's Halal industry jointly organized by the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development and the Halal Industry Development Corporation.

Another participant in the Malaysia Halal Carnival is Nuriyue Azimat from Eurasia Food Company, which is promoting Halal food from Kazakhstan.

He also agreed that different Halal certifications make it difficult for entrepreneurs to enter different markets.

Irran Irman Harun, director of Melky (M) Sdn Bhd, said that annual Halal shows such as the Malaysia Halal Carnival are not enough for promoting Halal products. 'If we consider expanding the market, the Halal recognized by our government needs to be recognized worldwide, so that entrepreneurs no longer need to apply for various certifications,' he said. He hopes the government can cooperate with other countries to reach a global consensus on this issue.

According to last year's Global Halal Economy report, global spending on Halal food and Halal lifestyle products is expected to increase by 10.8% a year by 2019, when it will create an international industry worth US$3.7 trillion. According to the report, the Halal food sector alone will grow to US$2.537 trillion in 2019, up from US$795 billion in 2014, which will be 21.2% of global food spending. The leading Halal food consumer country is Indonesia (market value US$190 billion), followed by Turkey, Pakistan and Iran.

FAQ

What difficulties does the lack of a global unified Halal standard cause businesses?
Currently each country has its own Halal standard, which may or may not accept another country's certification, causing industry confusion and making it difficult for entrepreneurs to enter the global market. For example, Wardah cosmetics, though certified by Indonesia's MUI and accepted by Malaysia's JAKIM, would still need Halal certification from different bodies to enter more markets. The industry calls on governments to cooperate with other countries to reach a consensus on a global unified Halal standard.
What is the size and what are the main consumer countries of the global Halal food market?
According to the Global Halal Economy report, global spending on Halal food and Halal lifestyle products is expected to increase by 10.8% a year by 2019, creating an international industry worth US$3.7 trillion; the Halal food sector alone will grow to US$2.537 trillion in 2019 (up from US$795 billion in 2014), accounting for 21.2% of global food spending. The leading Halal food consumer country is Indonesia (market value US$190 billion), followed by Turkey, Pakistan and Iran.