Selangor, 25 July 2011 – International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) initiated a move to encourage all of its foodservice operators and providers to obtain Halal certification from JAKIM by holding an exclusive “Seminar Panduan Restoran Halal” which was attended by 150 participants in its premise today. Seminar Panduan Restoran Halal is a series of nationwide seminars held in response to the growing interest amongst restaurant owners and foodservice operators in obtaining Halal certification through JAKIM but are unsure of the processes and criteria. It is a collaborative initiative between JAKIM as the country’s Halal Certification body, IHI Alliance in its role as a global Halal authority, and KasehDia, the company committed to contemporary Islamic communications.

The series of seminars is ongoing and has previously been held in the Klang Valley and Putrajaya as well as in conjunction with the 1Malaysia 1 Halal roadshow by JAKIM in Negeri Sembilan and Karnival Halal Kelantan. This is the first time the seminar is held exclusively for an institute of higher learning.

"We are collaborating on this seminar to create awareness of comprehensive halal concept among the canteen operators especially and IIUM community in general as well as to encourage them to adopt the Malaysian Halal certificate and to make IIUM a model institution in getting all its food premises as halal certified,” said Dr Noriah Ramli, from the International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), IIUM.

The seminar will allow participants to learn as well as have one-to-one meetings with the main players in the Halal food sector that will be able to help them source and meet the criteria set by JAKIM, from farm to fork.

According to research by JAKIM, there are over 35,000 restaurants in Malaysia and only a small percentage of them are certified by JAKIM. Private certification bodies operating unregulated  certification activities and with no set standards poses new challenges for the Halal industry. At the same time, the lack of awareness and understanding on the requirements of Halal certification by key industry players results in delays and reapplication for Halal certifications. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said in a meeting between the ministry and JAKIM in October last year that once the amendment to the Trade Description Act 1972, which covers Halal labeling and enforcement, comes into force, manufacturers and companies could no longer get their halal certification from private companies.  

“The seminar allows us to work together with the local industry stakeholders to ensure Halal integrity is maintained at all levels of the value chain starting at the grassroots level. We are pleased that this collaborative effort is being received well in the industry and even more pleased to have garnered the support from a prestigious institute of higher learning such as IIUM. We hope to see many other institutions follow the example set by IIUM,” said Darhim Hashim, CEO of IHI Alliance.

The seminar was a full day programme featuring important stakeholders in the Halal industry as speakers including JAKIM, followed by a clinic in the second part of the day where participants get a chance to consult with JAKIM, IHI Alliance, as well as raw materials and ingredients providers on a one-to-one basis.