22nd July 2009

MORE development of the Brunei Halal Brand will be unveiled during the International Halal Product Expo, which will allow local Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to explore wider business opportunities, said a senior Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources official.

Permanent Secretary Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar said that the Brunei Halal Brand initiative is aimed to strengthen the position and role of Brunei in the halal sector, through the establishment of the Halal Science Centre and Agrotech Park, which provides facilities for output activity and export of halal products.

During a halal workshop for SMEs, he said that the International Halal Market Conference will be held as a step towards disseminating information on the development and progress of the global halal industry, aside from the product exhibition involving local and international SMEs.

Throughout the three-year duration since the project was conducted, government agencies have taken several initiatives to develop the halal product industry in the country, according to the permanent secretary.

Among them is the introduction of the Brunei Halal Brand which was launched by His Majesty during the opening of the third International Halal Product Expo in 2008, he said.

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The Brunei Times

18th April 2009

THE Halal Food Control, Syariah Welfare Department, Ministry of Religious Affair (MoRA), had taken several steps to conduct a "Sertu" (purifying all equipment using soil and water) to a well known restaurant in Lambak Kanan recently.

It was reported that the restaurant was selling non-halal food previously before the current owner took place recently. "We received complaints from public who was questioning its hygienic and halal condition now," said an officer in charge who wished not to be named. He said that this cleaning process took a very long process as the kitchen must be emptied first.

He added that to ensure the Islamic hygiene quality, they had to ensure that all facilities such as cutleries, bowls, frying fans, plate, glasses, aluminum cooking table, wall and floor were cleaned thoroughly.

A "SURPRISE" is in store for the country's halal industry and will only be revealed during this year's International Halal Products Expo (IHPE), the Agriculture Department Acting Director said yesterday. This year's expo, which will be held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas from July 30 to August 2, will focus on promoting Brunei's halal brand in the drive to develop its halal products industry.

Hjh Normah Suria Hayati Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri related that the announcement would highlight the introduction of a mechanism for the implementation of the halal brand. However, she could not delve into further detail so as not to "spoil the surprise", she disclosed in a brief interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.

With regard to the increasing competition in the halal products sector from neighbouring countries, the acting director noted that the global halal market is large and there is "more than enough room for everybody" to compete. She said that the idea was to take a different approach compared to other countries. Therefore, through the development of Brunei's halal brand, the country will have its own label and its own standards for halal products, she said.