A new halal certification scheme is being hailed as the first "farm-to-fork" traceability system for halal meat and a major opportunity for British suppliers.
The Qurbani Project, a West Midlands-developed tagging and online certification system, expects to have a standard agreed by Assured British Meat within two months.
Covering animal welfare and husbandry, livestock transport, halal slaughter and food processing, the certification scheme would offer Muslims the assurance that they were not eating haram meat, according to Michael Oakes of Advantage West Midlands.
The development of a full scheme, which its creators hope will be bolted onto the Red Tractor assurance scheme, follows a two-year pilot trial carried out on behalf of Advantage West Midlands and the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum.
A pack logo would be developed to communicate product authenticity, a spokesman said.
There has been significant movement among producers to improve the transparency of the halal production process, and this week's announcement follows Janan Meats' Red Tractor accreditation last month.
The UK halal market is worth about £2.8m, and although the Muslim population stands at two million, Advantage West Midlands claims that four million more people are eating halal products.
"The halal logo often seen in shop windows is not patented or protected by regulation," said consultant Shoeeb Riaz of 3As Consulting Services.
"Numerous cases where the halal meat offered was not fit for human consumption, incorrectly labelled or proper health and regulation measures were not adhered to, have ended up in court."
The scheme is also being seen as an export opportunity for British farmers, who could access new markets in Europe and the Middle East. Talks were under way with supply chain partners and Muslim charities over setting up export deals, said Riaz.
The Qurbani Project, a West Midlands-developed tagging and online certification system, expects to have a standard agreed by Assured British Meat within two months.
Covering animal welfare and husbandry, livestock transport, halal slaughter and food processing, the certification scheme would offer Muslims the assurance that they were not eating haram meat, according to Michael Oakes of Advantage West Midlands.
The development of a full scheme, which its creators hope will be bolted onto the Red Tractor assurance scheme, follows a two-year pilot trial carried out on behalf of Advantage West Midlands and the West Midlands Minority Ethnic Business Forum.
A pack logo would be developed to communicate product authenticity, a spokesman said.
There has been significant movement among producers to improve the transparency of the halal production process, and this week's announcement follows Janan Meats' Red Tractor accreditation last month.
The UK halal market is worth about £2.8m, and although the Muslim population stands at two million, Advantage West Midlands claims that four million more people are eating halal products.
"The halal logo often seen in shop windows is not patented or protected by regulation," said consultant Shoeeb Riaz of 3As Consulting Services.
"Numerous cases where the halal meat offered was not fit for human consumption, incorrectly labelled or proper health and regulation measures were not adhered to, have ended up in court."
The scheme is also being seen as an export opportunity for British farmers, who could access new markets in Europe and the Middle East. Talks were under way with supply chain partners and Muslim charities over setting up export deals, said Riaz.
No comments yet