An agreement between a Saudi poultry giant and a Malaysian group brings back to the fore a principle that many Italian companies still underestimate: in the most important Islamic markets, a single Halal certification is not enough. Find out what this means in practice for businesses exporting from Italy to Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and the Gulf markets.
Tanmiah Food Company, one of Saudi Arabia's leading animal protein producers, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tradewinds Berhad, a Malaysian agri-food group, to explore the production, processing and distribution of Halal proteins with a South-East Asian focus. The agreement includes the export of chicken produced in Saudi Arabia to Malaysia, the development of local processing facilities and investment in upstream stages of the supply chain. As reported by HalalFocus, dual Halal certification is identified as the true strategic asset of the operation.
For an Italian agri-food company that exports — or wishes to export — to Islamic markets, this news contains a clear lesson: the structure of Halal certification required in destination countries is a competitive variable, not a bureaucratic detail to be dealt with at the last moment.
In the most regulated Islamic markets, obtaining a single Halal certification valid in the country of origin does not guarantee access to the destination market. Each country recognises a specific list of certification bodies and often distinguishes by product category.
In Saudi Arabia, the main references are SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) and SFDA (Saudi Food and Drug Authority). In Malaysia, the government authority is JAKIM. In Indonesia, BPJPH issues the certificate whilst MUI or other authorised bodies handle the fatwa. In the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf, the references are GAC and EIAC. HQC Italia is recognised by all of these bodies.
When a commercial operation simultaneously involves two countries with different recognition systems — as in the case of the Tanmiah–Tradewinds agreement between Saudi Arabia and Malaysia — the product must be certified in a way that is accepted by both. This is what the industry calls
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