Brussels hosting int’l halal conference
-
Islamic halal food is seen in the picture
The 7th international conference on halal food and products began in the Belgian capital of Brussels on Monday.
The two-day conference is focused on the emerging markets for halal products, which are in accordance with Islamic teachings and tenets, IINA reported.
The Halal Food Council of Europe, based in Brussels, has organized the event. Halal food is that which adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the holy book of Quran, in terms of the Islamic form of slaughtering animals or poultry. Halal means permissible in the Islamic Sharia law and covers everything from food to finance, logistics and tourism.
Iqbal Ahmed Qureshi, director of the council, said the conference is an opportunity for discussing the rules and criteria for issuing Halal certificates in the next decade.
He noted that use of halal products is growing in the world and even among non-Muslims.
According to Qureshi, people in North America and Europe spent 48 billion dollars for halal food.
The global halal industry is estimated to be worth more than $2 trillion, including a $1 trillion food market which is expanding.
Muslim countries from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Turkey and Pakistan to non-Muslim nations such as Japan, New Zealand and the UK are active in the halal food market.
EA
