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Halal is an Arabic word which means any object or action that is permissible to use or engage in accordance to Islamic law. Having a product Halal certified would mean a larger global market. Halal certification is not only for Muslim consumers but it means that the product has passed the international standards of the preparation and handling of product.

Even in non- Muslim countries like the Philippines which has a Muslim population of about five million, the Halal business has been growing. Shariah experts, theologians and Muslim scholars in the Philippines had developed PNS 2067:2008, which is used as general guidelines both on the preparation and handling of products by the food industry and is used as the basic requirement for food product and a food trade in the Philippines.

Included in the PNS is the method on how to slaughter, prepare, process, manufacture, handle, package and serve Halal foods.

Accepted Foods in Halal

Except from plants that are poisonous, hazardous to health or intoxicating, all types of plants are Halal. Among the animals that are not accepted are animals with claws and fangs, some reptiles like snakes, contaminated and dead animals, frogs and other animals that live both in land and in water, centipedes, scorpions and the like, insects and pest like rats, birds like vultures and eagles, fox, dogs, monkeys, donkeys, tigers, cats, lions, elephants and the most common animal which is not approved by Halal is the swine (pigs). Aquatic animals that are poisonous are also prohibited unless the poison is removed. The rest of land and aquatic animals aside from those stated above are lawful.

Intoxitants and hazardous drinks in all forms, substances that are hallucinogenic, and unlawful sources of food additives are also unauthorized.

Labelling

Just like any other product, the necessary labels should be included in the product such as the expiration dates, date manufactured together with the batch number, list of ingredients, details about the manufacturer, country of origin, importer and distributor, and trademarks.

Most importantly, using the Arabic term, the product should be marked with the Halal logo together with the name of the certifying body.

Halal Exporters in the Philippines

All over the country, there are 12 private organizations listed as Halal certifiers. Because Halal is a religious matter, the Supreme Court has decided that the government will no longer certify Halal products. Instead, it will be on the hands of the Halal certifiers which are also in-charged with the inspection and audit of establishments and services as well as the certification of both food and non-food products.

As of now, there are over 200 Philippine-based firms that have secured Halal certification listed by the Department of Trade and Industry. These firms came from different industries such as food products and supplements, personal care and cosmetics, furnishing, packaging materials, cargo handling, herbal and cargo products and others.

The Dalisay Sweets International has been exporting preserved nata de coco and kaong. They have been exporting these products in other countries like Middle East and United States for years, though the product is labeled differently once exported. According to Dalisay Sweets International, with the certification of Halal, the penetration of Muslim markets has been easier.