March 8, 2006

Philippines gain access to Middle East markets
 

The United Arab Emirates has lifted the ban on Philippine processed meat and chicken products after authorities accredited a local halal certification body responsible for food products exported to the Middle East.

Abdul Rahman RT Linzag, president of the Islamic Dawah Council of the Philippines (IDCP), said his group was granted accreditation after a visit of UAE food officials to the Philippines in mid-2005, making it the only organisation in Philippines allowed to do the certification.

Halal is an Arabic word that refers to products that Muslims are allowed to use, eat and drink.

Food products from the Philippines were banned in 2004 after the UAE had stopped a shipment of products from the Philippines due to the absence of proper halal certification.

Linzag said the UAE team was expected to return to the Philippines to certify poultry processing facilities.

The UAE accounts for a sizable portion of the US$150-billion-a-year global halal food market.