PUTRAJAYA: The government is seeking feedback from stakeholders, including industry players and foreign embassies, to improve the recognition process of halal certification bodies abroad.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said the government wanted to listen to the views of stakeholders before outlining suitable standard operating procedure for the process.

“This is to strengthen Malaysia’s halal certification by fine-tuning the recognition procedures of halal certification bodies abroad, ” he said in a virtual media conference yesterday after delivering a message in conjunction with an online gathering of agencies under the department.

Zulkifli said these procedures would be uploaded on the www.halal.gov.my portal for public comment by stakeholders.

To better understand issues related to halal certification, he said officials had visited several factories and meat storage warehouses in the country.

There was positive feedback (from these visits) and they were committed to ensuring the supply was from halal sources, he said.

Zulkifli also said the Malaysian Halal Council would be reactivated following several discussions involving the relevant agencies on the meat cartel issue as well after meetings with meat importers and distributors earlier this month.

Members of the council would comprise representatives from other ministries, professional bodies and halal experts who would monitor policies and directives issued by Jakim on halal matters, he said. — Bernama

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/01/26/govt-seeks-other-nations-sop-on-halal-certification