Workshop on Advanced Halal Product Audit
The School of Food Science and Nutrition (SSMP), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in cooperation with the Sabah State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS), conducted a workshop on “Advanced Halal Product Audit” on 16 March 2012. In his closing speech, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of UMS, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah (Research & Innovation) said that the workshop is an indicator that UMS is competent to provide technical trainings for halal food auditors among the staff of JHEAINS besides its training services to food handlers in Sabah. Representing the UMS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Mohd Harun reminded the 42 participants who had undergone four days of training from 13 to 16 March 2012, to utilize the knowledge and audit skills gained in the workshop for their roles in Halal Certification. This workshop marks a milestone to continue with more series of halal trainings organized jointly by UMS and JHEAINS throughout 2012.
He said this programme is the responsibility of UMS as the “agent of change” for the people and industry of Sabah through the delivery of existing academic expertise in the university. The increasing demand for quality halal food products and in parallel with the aspiration of the Government of Malaysia to be the world halal hub, the world halal trade now is estimated at AS$2.1 trillion (RM8.4 trillion) annually, Sabah food industries will need to strive harder to produce quality halal products for exports. The vast halal market supplying to 1.8 billion Muslims throughout the world is lucrative enough, but the spin-off markets is even bigger to fulfill the needs of all, Muslim and non-Muslims, as halal food is now accepted by all. The European halal food market alone comprised the third largest Muslim population in the world after Asia and Africa with its market value of AS$6.7 billion this year. This is due to the high purchasing power among Muslims besides increasing educated Muslims in the labour market.
The focus of the workshop brings the message of branding halal products certified by JHEAINS as products complied with the concept of 'Halalan Toyyiban' which covers the compliance to Syariah aspects (halal) and toyyiban aspects (safe, clean and quality). He is confident that JHEAINS will become a competent halal certification body in Sabah and will continue to implement a wholistic halal certification system in compliance with the Malaysian standard which forms the integrity and basis of Halal Certification Malaysia. Assoc Prof. Dr. Sharifudin Md. Shaarani, the Dean of SSMP, added that SSMP planned to train more food handlers, entrepreneurs and manufacturers to produce halal food according to the requirements of the Malaysian standard. SSMP will also introduce training modules for halal certified companies and manufacturers to maintain their halal practices.
Reported by: Assoc. Prof. Hjh. Mariam Abdul Latif