Halal compliance process is scientific

February 19, 2014 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 uslims must take some responsibility! Halal in "ri #anka has been pro$ected as a very intrusive %percept& that in fact has no value or even considered a hindrance to other communities! 'n fact ' believe that it is the reverse! (hen one takes into account the processes that Halal compliance audits and certification re)uires, it can be clearly seen as another means to ensure that the food we consume is safe and compliant in whatever the given framework! 'n 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! +he 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! ,ecently 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! -nbeknownst 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! +here are even reports of people using wheat flour and mi.ing it with colouring and adding these to spices to increase volume! 'n fact there is )uite a lot of money to be made by unscrupulous elements through these deceitful acts! +his is why there has to be stringent measures to check the authenticity of what we are buying! +he 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! +his article points towards the warning of

e.perts on to.ins that are cancer risks caused through the consumption of these food items! "tringent process +he Halal /ompliance audit and certification therefore, is a stringent process which has a carefully designed set of "tandard 0perating 1rocedures 2"01s3 and +otal 4uality anagement to ensure that the food we consume falls within a safe to consume framework! +he certification process re)uires 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 'slamic guidelines or way of life, which is also referred to as 5"hariah*! H6/ pays stringent attention when it comes to food ingredients and additives! +he 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 2not permissible3 category! (hen one takes into account the processes that Halal compliance audits and certification re)uires, 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 e.ample, acetic acid used in food items is derived from plants as well as from animal tissue7 it could also be artificially fabricated! 6ccording to 'slamic guidelines on food safety, acetic acid derived from plants or synthetically made are Halal 2permissible to eat3 whereas acetic acid derived from animal tissue is Haram! 6nother e.ample would be 6dipic 6cid which only occurs in plants but could also be artificially fabricated! ' believe it is fair to say that modern science and technology, as much as it has made life easier has e)ually made things complicated, including the influences on the ingredients and manufacturing processes of what we consume! /onsidering that these food ingredients and additives can come from such very different sources, is the reason why we pay ma.imum scrutiny in approving food ingredients and additives! +herefore, the Halal compliance audits and certification process is a must in today*s world where the uslims are concerned because we cannot risk consuming something that is Haram according to 'slamic principles but at the same time an increasing number of non8 uslims are concerned about making sure that what they consume is ethical, fair and not contaminated! 9ut 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 e.act science! Halal compliance certification 'n order to obtain Halal compliance certification in "ri #anka, one must first apply with an application accompanied by a letter of intent! +he Halal 6ccreditation /ouncil 2:uarantee3 #td! or H6/ then conducts an audit;inspection of the production;service facility to review manufacturing process, products, materials and sanitation! +he process also re)uires the applicant to provide information such as specification sheets, list of declared and undeclared ingredients, labels, flow charts, cleaning procedures, etc! +he audit which is confidentially done provides the applicant with recommendations in case of failure to receive approval! 'f the audit finds the entire process is in order, then the ne.t step is approval and an agreement is signed between H6/ and the applicant following which the Halal /ompliance /ertificate will be issued valid for a period of one year! 6part 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! H6/ would also be providing the companies with re)uired 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 /ompliance /ertification alone! +his helps "ri #ankan industries to move to the ne.t level in terms of their corporate competitiveness and process improvements! <efining market parameter +he 'marat /onsultants, a famous Halal arket 'ntelligence 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! +hey 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 'H6", 2a Halal8only trade e.po3, the (orld Halal Forum 2an industry8led forum3 and +he Halal =ournal, 2a business maga>ine for the Halal8sector stake8holders3! 6ccording to the website these new initiatives, with varying degrees of success have re8defined the way Halal compliant products and services are perceived, especially by government officers and industry players! 9ecause all of these initiatives had an international perspective, they attracted a

strong response from like8minded individuals and companies keen to see the development of this new market! 6nd so the international network has strengthened, new ideas and initiatives have emerged, and the notion of a Halal /ompliance 'ndustry has already begun to take shape as an important contributing aspect to global trade 6lthough one might say that Halal compliant food has been around for 1,400 years, the 'marat /onsultants say that it has become clear that with the mi. of trade and industry globalisation, new high8tech developments in manufacturing and processing of foods, and the comple. 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! ?+he writer is the /hief @.ecutive 0fficer of H6/, Halal 6ccreditation /ouncil 2:uarantee3 #td! He is also a <irector at :lobal /ommodity "olutions #td! 'n the past, he has worked as a 9usiness 6nalyst for a "ri #ankan conglomerate which is also a listed company and as an 'nvestment 6dvisor for a Financial "ervices organisation! 6 past pupil of ,oyal /ollege /olombo A, Fatharally has been an oarsman and has professional )ualifications from the /harted 'nstitute of anagement 6ccountants 2/' 63 and the /harted 'nstitute of "ecurities and 'nvestment 2/'"'3! He can be reached on aliBhac!lk!C