Malaysia has 13 halal standards, which not only certify food items as well as food premises, but also cosmetics, personal care, pharmaceuticals and logistics. Halal Industry Development Corporation (HDC) chief executive officer Datuk Seri Jamil Bidin said most countries had only begun or have yet to go beyond the food industry. Apart from the food and pharmaceutical industry, among others, Jamal said Malaysian halal industry players had also been actively producing halal vaccines, nutraceutical products (dietary supplements and medicinal food ingredients) as well as devices that are used during medical operations. Jakim Halal Hub director Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said Malaysia had been producing halal pharmaceuticals (HPs) since 2014 as under halal certification, the seven schemes included food, logistics, manufacturing, cosmetics, slaughterhouses, consumer goods (suchas toiletries) and pharmaceuticals. Despite the existing comprehensive standards, he said the country’s halal certification system had room for improvement to retain its leading position in the global halal industry.

Source: New Strait Times November 19, 2017 02:15 UTC