AHDB proposes assurance standards for halal meat
The potential development of halal assurance standards was among the subjects discussed at the recent AHDB Beef & Lamb halal seminar.
Over 80 delegates from across the supply chain attended the event in Stratford-Upon-Avon to hear from expert speakers and find out more about the opportunities offered by the growing market.
At the seminar, AHDB Beef & Lamb head of global supply chain development Dr Phil Hadley outlined the organisation’s proposed assurance standards for halal sheep meat and asked attendees to submit their views.
He said: “AHDB is considering introducing assurance standards for both stunned and traditional halal sheep meat. This is something we originally proposed in 2013, but at the time results of our consultation showed that industry opinion was divided.
“However, the halal sector has moved on significantly since then, therefore it’s the right time to revisit this discussion and seek industry views.”
Other speakers at the event included Joe Regenstein, professor of food science from Cornell University in the United States, who gave an in-depth analysis of how to meet consumer needs during the halal slaughter process, and Awal Fuseini, PhD student from the University of Bristol, who presented his work around alternative stunning technologies.
Dr Jonathan Wilson, associate professor of business and management at Richmond Business School, looked at branding and the halal market, while Abdalhamid Evans, from Imarat Consultants, gave an overview of the current challenges in halal certification and moves towards global standards.
Speaking about the importance of the halal market post-Brexit, Evans said: “If we want to be open for business with the world, we need to be aware that a lot of the rest of the world is Muslim.
“Muslims are the only major religious group projected to grow faster than the world’s population as a whole.”
A formal consultation on the halal assurance standards is planned for late April.
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