ZCZC
BSS-32
DCCI-SEMINAR
Forming halal certification body stressed
DHAKA, Oct 26, 2019 (BSS) – The speakers at a seminar here today
underscored the need for a halal certification body in the country to tap the
trillion dollar international halal food market.
They put such emphasis at the seminar on “Ensuring safe and halal food:
present context and necessary measures” at Dhaka Chamber of Commerce &
Industry (DCCI) today.
Organized by the DCCI, Ambassador of the UAE to Bangladesh Saed Mohammed
Al-Muhairi was present as the guest of honour while Director General of
Islamic Foundation Shamim Mohammad Afjal and Chairman of Bangladesh Food
Safety Authority Syeda Sarwar Jahan were present as special guests.
DCCI President Osama Taseer chaired the seminar while DCCI senior vice
president Waqar Ahmad Choudhury made the concluding remarks, said a DCCI
press release.
Ambassador of the UAE to Bangladesh Saed Mohammed Al-Muhairi said that the
popularity of halal foods and other consumer items has been rising even among
the non-muslim populations around the world as halal foods are hygienic and
healthy.
“The global consumption value of halal food increase with 8.14% average
growth rate and over the next five years, the halal food market will register
a 6.1% compound annual growth rate in terms of revenue,” he said.
The UAE Ambassador also hoped that Bangladesh would soon enter into not
only the UAE market, but also into the global market of halal products.
DCCI President Osama Taseer in his welcome address said that agriculture
and food products were the 2nd largest export sector in Bangladesh exporting
$1.4 billion in FY2018-19 after the RMG sector.
“To expand the export volume and export basket of Bangladesh, we need to
ensure quality and standard of our food products,” he said adding that
because of weak infrastructure, inadequate eco-system, weak standard quality
certification and low value addition, Bangladesh is falling behind in
conformity assessment and losing competitiveness in international market.
Director General of Islamic Foundation Shamim Mohammad Afjal underscored
the need for establishing some sort of One Stop Service point under BSTI for
halal certification and testing. He emphasized on adopting science and
technology for the development of halal certification process.
Chairman of Bangladesh Food Safety Authority Syeda Sarwar Jahan said
Bangladesh is the 5th largest country in the global Muslim food and beverage
consumption market.
“If we can ensure safe and halal production of meat, then it could have the
opportunity to explore new window of international market in Muslim
countries. So, it is high time for us to work together for ensuring safe and
halal food for our life and health as well as for sustainable development,”
she added.
Prof Dr. AK Obidul Huq, also the Chairman of Department of Food Technology
and Nutritional Science of Moulana Bhashani Science & Technology University,
in his keynote paper said non-halal food is a threat and risk to the Muslims
and harming national economy, trade and tourism.
He recommended for establishing halal accreditation body, testing
laboratories, halal processing zones in Bangladesh.
Dr. Samia Abdellatif, Conformity Director, RACS, Dubai, UAE also presented
a paper. She said that for halal certification, adequate infrastructures and
enforcement are needed since Bangladesh has potentials to have testing
laboratories and halal accreditation body.
She invited Bangladesh to be an active member of International Halal
Association Forum (IHAF).
Deputy Executive Director of ACI Food Limited Anup Kumar Saha, CEO of
Bengal Meat AFM Asif, Post-harvest Technology and Management Specialist,
Department of Agriculture Extension Dr. Md Saleh Ahmed, Former Secretary of
Ministry of Agriculture and Coordinating Director of DCCI Enamul Haque
Patwary spoke on the occasion as panel discussants.
The speakers at the seminar also urged the government to allocate 10
Economic Zones out of 100 for halal food processing. They also urged to give
credit facility and tax incentives to the private sector to promote them in
coming up with more investments in this sector.
BSS/PR/GM/KU/1928 HRS