Halal compliance process is scientific

Wednesday, 19 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Halal compliance has been made to look as a very contentious issue amongst certain sections of society and this is because of certain misconceptions that have been caused over time, for which we as Muslims must take some responsibility. Halal in Sri Lanka has been projected as a very intrusive “percept” that in fact has no value or even considered a hindrance to other communities. In fact I believe that it is the reverse. When one takes into account the processes that Halal compliance audits and certification requires, it can be clearly seen as another means to ensure that the food we consume is safe and compliant in whatever the given framework. In today’s world where there is such a wide variety of choice, with processed food taking up a big part of it, we are left vulnerable to countless woes. The end product that we consume might have many different components we did not originally bargain for and if it goes unchecked there is a great possibility that we may be eating food that is completely harmful to us. Recently there was an article in the newspaper which said that several harmful substances were being added even to the spices we use in our

cooking. Unbeknownst to us various dangerous colourings or dyes are being added to make our chilli and turmeric powders look better despite what it might do to our insides. There are even reports of people using wheat flour and mixing it with colouring and adding these to spices to increase volume. In fact there is quite a lot of money to be made by unscrupulous elements through these deceitful acts. This is why there has to be stringent measures to check the authenticity of what we are buying. The recent findings of fabric dye and synthetic aromas in food items such as chilli powder and chilli sauce by the health police and consumer affairs’ officials has raised health concerns among medical officials. This article points towards the warning of experts on toxins that are cancer risks caused through the consumption of these food items. Stringent process The Halal Compliance audit and certification therefore, is a stringent process which has a carefully designed set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and Total Quality Management to ensure that the food we consume falls within a safe to consume framework. The certification process requires maintaining auditors in chemistry, food science, agro industry, biology, physics, and veterinary segments to ensure food safety and that it falls under what is permissible to eat under Islamic guidelines or way of life, which is also referred to as ‘Shariah’. HAC pays stringent attention when it comes to food ingredients and additives. The main reason for this is that sources of such food ingredients and additives varies from plants and animals to synthetic means and such plants and animals could belong in the Haram (not permissible) category.

"When one takes into account the processes that Halal compliance audits and certification requires, it can be clearly seen as another means to ensure that the food we consume is safe and compliant in whatever the given framework"

For example, acetic acid used in food items is derived from plants as well as from animal tissue; it could also be artificially fabricated. According to Islamic guidelines on food safety, acetic acid derived from plants or synthetically made are Halal (permissible to eat) whereas acetic acid derived from animal tissue is Haram. Another example would be Adipic Acid which only occurs in plants but could also be artificially fabricated. I believe it is fair to say that modern science and technology, as much as it has made life easier has equally made things complicated, including the influences on the ingredients and manufacturing processes of what we consume. Considering that these food ingredients and additives can come from such very different sources, is the reason why we pay maximum scrutiny in approving food ingredients and additives. Therefore, the Halal compliance audits and certification process is a must in today’s world where the Muslims are concerned because we cannot risk consuming something that is Haram according to Islamic principles but at the same time an increasing number of non-Muslims are concerned about making sure that what they consume is ethical, fair and not contaminated. But looking at a larger picture, a process such as this where there is constant auditing and improvements, is a necessity even if it is outside the Halal process as we need to safeguard ourselves against anything harmful we might otherwise consume. Halal compliance is no longer an ad hoc measure and internationally, Halal certification bodies have made it in to an exact science. Halal compliance certification In order to obtain Halal compliance certification in Sri Lanka, one must first apply with an application accompanied by a letter of intent. The Halal Accreditation Council (Guarantee) Ltd. or HAC then conducts an audit/inspection of the production/service facility to review manufacturing process, products, materials and sanitation. The process also requires the applicant to provide information such as specification sheets, list of declared and undeclared ingredients, labels, flow charts, cleaning procedures, etc. The audit which is confidentially done provides the applicant with recommendations in case of failure to receive approval. If the audit finds the entire process is in order, then the next step is approval and an agreement is signed between HAC and the applicant following which the Halal Compliance Certificate will be issued valid for a period of one year. Apart from the routine scheduled and spot audits for compliance, another set of audits would be done to ensure standards are maintained in the event renewal is sought at the end of the year. HAC would also be providing the companies with required market, technical and development related facilitation to improve their manufacturing processes/facilities to be upgraded to internationally accepted levels, this adding value to the relationship rather than confining to mere Halal Compliance Certification alone. This helps Sri Lankan industries to move to the next level in terms of their corporate competitiveness and process improvements. Defining market parameter The Imarat Consultants, a famous Halal Market Intelligence website, says that although Halal food has been produced and sold all over the world for a long time, it is only in recent years that Halal as a concept has emerged as a defining market parameter in global trade and commerce. They say that this was probably the first time that Halal compliance was seen as an economic driver, which has led to new initiatives such as MIHAS, (a Halal-only trade expo), the World Halal Forum (an industry-led forum) and The Halal Journal, (a business magazine for the Halal-sector stake-holders). According to the website these new initiatives, with varying degrees of success have re-defined the way Halal compliant products and services are perceived, especially by government officers and industry players. Because all of these initiatives had an international perspective, they attracted a strong response from like-minded individuals and companies keen to see the development of this new market. And so the international network has strengthened, new ideas and initiatives have emerged, and the notion of a Halal Compliance Industry has already begun to take shape as an important contributing aspect to global trade Although one might say that Halal compliant food has been around for 1,400 years, the Imarat Consultants say that it has become clear that with the mix of trade and industry globalisation, new high-tech developments in manufacturing and processing of foods, and the complex world of ingredients, food flavours and additives, a new perspective of Halal compliance and how it has to be applied to the 21st century needs to be developed. [The writer is the Chief Executive Officer of HAC, Halal Accreditation Council (Guarantee) Ltd. He is also a Director at Global Commodity Solutions Ltd. In the past, he has worked as a Business Analyst for a Sri Lankan conglomerate which is also a listed company and as an Investment Advisor for a Financial Services organisation. A past pupil of Royal College Colombo 7, Fatharally has been an oarsman and has professional qualifications from the Charted Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the Charted Institute of Securities and Investment (CISI). He can be reached on [email protected].]

Halal compliance process is scientific

"When one takes into account the processes that Halal compliance audits and certification requires, it can be clearly seen as another means to ensure that the food we consume is safe and compliant in whatever the given framework"

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