12 -Feb -2008
sourced from The Star Online
PUTRAJAYA: The ever-increasing demand
for halal products has spurred the Islamic Development
Department (Jakim) to set up a multi-million
ringgit laboratory that is able to carry out
sophisticated and advanced tests to determine
the halal worthiness of any product.
The laboratory, estimated to cost around RM21mil will be
ready by 2011 and will see close collaboration
between the department and University Putra
Malaysia (UPM), which is renowned for its tests,
research work and R&D development for halal
products.
The high-tech facility will be placed at the Halal Management
Complex at Bandar Einstek, located in Nilai,
Negri Sembilan.
Jakim director-general Datuk Wan Mohammad Sheikh Abdul
Aziz said the laboratory, once in operation,
would expedite tests being conducted on products
before they could be certified as halal, adding
customers' concern has resulted in many companies
applying for halal certification from the department.
He said that in 2005, Jakim had received 716 applications
for its halal certification while last year,
the number of applications received surged to
1,743. Currently, the department has to depend
on the Chemistry Department to help carry out
tests before it could issue a halal certificate.
"In issuing halal certification, we need to really ascertain
that all the ingredients used by manufacturers
are genuinely halal, as stipulated by the (Muslim)
religion. This has to be adhered to strictly
by companies wishing to obtain our halal certificate.
"The reason why a lot of companies are clamouring for Jakim's
halal certification is because of the expanding
market comprising Muslim consumers. Even non-Muslims
have started to become discerning and concerned
about the types of ingredients that are used
in food, medical and cosmetic products.
"Once we have the laboratory, Jakim will be able to conduct
tests with utmost precision, effectively and
efficiently," he told reporters Tuesday after
the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) between Jakim and UPM.
The MoU allows close collaboration and co-operation between
the two parties to develop the halal laboratory.
Wan Mohammad signed on behalf of Jakim while
UPM was represented by its vice-chancellor,
Prof Datuk Dr Nik Mustapha Abdullah. Minister
in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr
Abdullah Md Zin witnessed the signing ceremony.
