A NEW halal standard drafted by theDepartment of Trade and Industry is set to be launched in Davao City thiscoming May 1 to 6 in time for the Philippine Halal Trade Week. 

Marilou W. Ampuan, president of UniversalIslamic Center Foundation (UICF), said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw forumMonday, March 26, that with this launching, they were hoping that more and morenon-halal establishments will be certified to serve halal food.

Ampuan said the Philippines is a member ofthe International Halal Accreditation Forum, a unifying body of the countrieswhich have Halal standards; so certification as Halal under the new scheme willmean worldwide recognition.
 

In the Philippines, Ampuan said there areonly six Halal certifiers accredited by the National Commission for MuslimFilipinos, which is no longer the accreditation body, as the power has beentransferred to DTI. 

These six accredited certifiers fromManila, Cotabato, General Santos City, and United Arab Emirates with locallegal identity are: Islamic Dawa Council of the Philippines, Halal DevelopmentInstitute of the Philippines, Mindanao Halal Authority, Muslim Mindanao HalalCertification Board, Halal International chamber of Commerce, and Prime. 

She said these certifiers will not bebarred to do business since their accreditation will be extended until 2019.She said these certifiers are already processing their qualifications for thenew standard scheme. 

She said non-halal food establishments areinvited to join the Halal week to be certified by the accredited certifiers. 

"Ang DOT Halal recipients are thosetargets for possible renewal of certification since Davao is being positionedas pilot project area for Muslim Friendly Destination," she said. 

These DOT Halal recipients include ElBajada Hotel and Marco Polo Hotel and other hotels, resorts, and restaurants.She said they are seeking Marco Polo to be as model, since they found that thehotel has already adapted to the basic sensitivity for Muslims. 

She said there are also 10 otherestablishments in the city that do not serve pork that they want to avail of aHalal certification. 

"It is easier for them, because theyhave only one kitchen, it is doable for them to have Halal certification,"Ampusan said. 

Ampuan said that having Halal certificationunder the new standard of DTI, will pave way for restaurant owners to be partof the $3-trillion industry worldwide. 
 

Link->http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/local-news/2018/03/26/new-halal-standard-be-launched-may-595678