Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura, or MUIS, the sole authority on issuing and regulating certifications for local halal F&B products in Singapore, has highlighted the need for halal food firms to be consistent in their documentation, especially when exporting to countries with a strong halal focus. This would improve firms’ access to the global halal market, estimated to be worth over USD 2.1 trillion, by better catering to local tastes of halal consumers in foreign countries.
A key area highlighted by MUIS was the importance of consistency in information and details, such as product names, ingredients and contact details. As import countries would counter-check such information, inconsistencies might result in blocks and could even result in products not being allowed into these countries. Another key area highlighted was the need for product labels to be properly researched and labelled, especially in countries where English is not the main language. This would enable firms to better comply with the standards of foreign markets, such as label languages and formats, as well as on-pack claims.
MUIS has also noted that not every food material requires a halal certificate, and advised companies to better understand the conditions required for obtaining a halal certificate, which would help smoothen the certification process.
(Source: Food Navigator Asia)
