October 14, 2010

Malaysia approves beef exports from Pakistan            

Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), Ministry of Agriculture, and the Agro Industry have approved an export of Pakistani halal meat to Malaysia.

According to Pakistan's High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, the DVS has informed the Pakistan High Commission that as a result of the inspections of abattoirs and processing plants in Pakistan by DVS and department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), the company Zenith Associates has been approved for the export of frozen beef to Malaysia.

The High Commissioner for Pakistan in Malaysia, Masood Khalid, said it was significant development in the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the halal sector and added that this will open a formal channel for export of meat from Pakistan to Malaysia.

Khalid said Pakistan and Malaysia were ideally placed with complementary resources and capabilities to work together for making progress into the world's halal market through cooperation in different sectors.

A three-member team comprising of officials from DVS, JAKIM, and Malaysia's Ministry of Health visited Pakistan in April this year to inspect the abattoirs and the gelatin manufacturing facilities in Pakistan, as a final requirement to accord them with the Halal Certification to export meat and products of animal origin to Malaysia.

Earlier, the Penang International Halal Hub (PIHH) of Malaysia and Sindh Board of Investment (SBI) of Pakistan had also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Karachi in August this year with a view to broaden cooperation in Halal Industry in Pakistan.

Pakistan and Malaysia had also signed MoUs and one Letter of Intent to promote halal food businesses between the two countries during a visit by the Minister of Agriculture and Agro Based Industry of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Noh Bin Haji Omar in Pakistan December last year.