Plans to issue standards on halal hit snag

By Ronnel Domingo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 21:20:00 02/17/2008

AN INTERAGENCY BODY IS SET TO come out next month with standards on the production of halal food amid efforts of food manufacturers to take advantage of the $200-billion global market.

However, an official of the Jakarta-based World Halal Council said the guidelines were "localized" and not up to the requirements for internationally accepted food for Muslims.

Trade Undersecretary Carissa Cruz-Evangelista said in a statement that the interagency core group preparing the "First Philippine General Guidelines on Halal Food" included the departments of trade and industry, agriculture, science and technology, health, and tourism; and the Office of Muslim Affairs.

These agencies are cooperating with the Office of the President and the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao to have the halal guidelines ready for presentation to President Macapagal-Arroyo on March 13.

Halal is an Arabic word that can be generally translated as "permissible" and, in relation to consumables, referred to products that Muslims are allowed to use, eat and drink in the observance of Islam.

Abdul Rahman RT Linzag, newly installed secretary general of the World Halal Council, said however that the proposed standards may only be good for local consumption.

"I have perused this document and I found that the guidelines are not up to WHC standards," Linzag said.

He explained that the guidelines "were based on the rule of the majority and popular tastes" rather than what are acceptable to other countries in relation to halal.

Linzag, who is also president of the nongovernment organization Islamic Da'wah Council of the Philippines, reiterated that rules on halal could never be a government function, especially in a country like the Philippines where Muslims are a minority.