Dubai: Groundwork has begun for the establishment of the world’s first halal international accreditation network in the country — the International Halal Accreditation Forum (IHAF).
The secretary-general office of the IHAF has started the groundwork in solidifying its presence in the UAE, in line with the directives of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in boosting the status of the country as the Global Capital for Islamic Economy, the forum said in a press release on Wednesday.
“IHAF is now finalising the drafting of its bylaw that will be deliberated by its general assembly in November this year. Following the approval of its bylaw, IHAF will expand its multi-lateral agreements with major food and product exporting countries,” it stated.
Mohammad Saleh Badri, secretary-general of IHAF, said: “The rate of growth witnessed in the halal market shows that by 2030 it can be the biggest industry in the world. However, although halal standards and processes are based on the universal principles and teachings of Islam, the halal industry is yet to use one universal set of determinants and one all-encompassing mark.”
“More than a hundred halal marks are currently being used all over the globe. IHAF’s ultimate mission is to unify halal criteria and halal practices and generate a global agreement among the authorities that would ease the flow of halal goods between countries and create a halal market consumers can trust,” he added.
IHAF is an independent, non-government network of accreditation agencies all mandated to enforce halal standards in their countries and regions. It is empowered by its aim to protect the growing number of halal consumers, to facilitate international trade, and to establish a solid ground for the global industry of Halal food and non-food products.
IHAF’s 10 founding members include Dubai Municipality (Dubai Accreditation Centre), Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Emirates National Accreditation System), American Association for Laboratory Accreditation, Pakistan National Accreditation Council, Entidad Nacional de Acreditacion (Spain), GCC Accreditation Centre, Saudi Accreditation Committee, United Kingdom Accreditation Service, Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand, and National Council for Accreditation Egypt.
Spearheaded by the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) and the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma), IHAF is anchored on the belief that greater cooperation among regional and international organisations is the key in creating a halal industry that is strong, stable, reliable and responsive to the needs of consumers and businesses across the world.
