Industry News

Saudi Arabia—Subordinate to the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)Saudi Halal CenterHalal Mark Track has been launched.The system is designed to enable Halal certification andAlign with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.

This project was undertaken by the Saudi Halal Center and HalalProduct Development Company(Halal Product Development Company, affiliated with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)) andTHIQAHThe goal of this collaborative implementation is to create a more reliable and sustainable Halal ecosystem.

Halal Mark TrackBy integrating approved Halal standards with ESG requirements, products can meet both Halal compliance and sustainability standards under the supervision of the Saudi Halal Centre.

By combining Halal compliance with ESG measures, this initiative aims to enhance consumer trust in Saudi products and strengthen their competitiveness in regional and global markets.

The collaboration between Halal's product development company and THIQAH focuses on building a structured ecosystem for evaluating products and services, providing businesses with recognized quality standards.

Companies that obtain this certification can expand their local and international businesses while adhering to internationally aligned quality and sustainability standards.

Officials said,Halal Mark TrackIt is an improvementHalalThis strategic initiative to improve industry operational efficiency will also create market opportunities for both local and foreign companies.

Modern livestock management

The launch of this certification system follows a report in July 2025 that Saudi Arabia was piloting a system that uses...Facial recognition technologyA digital livestock management system to monitor the health and productivity of small ruminants.

This system is called Saudi Smart Flock.The system, inLaunched under the Sustainable Rural Agriculture Development Program (Saudi Reef) and implemented in six pilot farms last year, it aims to modernize small-scale livestock farming.

This system identifies individuals by animal facial features, tracks production performance, monitors health status, and integrates farm records into a unified digital platform, suitable for both traditional and intensive farming scenarios.

Farmers using the system can obtain real-time data on herd performance and health, aiming to reduce losses and improve livestock quality over time.

Saudi Reef's goal is to increase the income of small-scale farmers and boost the country's food production through technology-driven livestock management.

According to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, livestock farming remains one of the core sectors of the rural economy, with millions of sheep, goats, and camels raised nationwide.

GASTAT data shows that Saudi Arabia has approximately22 million sheep, 7.4 million goats and 2.2 million camelsThe sheep are predominantly female, and most of the camels are 4 years old or older.