Halal poultry sustains European market development

Halal chicken has been recognised as providing a strong expansion market for UK and European poultry meat producers.

In the UK alone, 4% of the population is Muslim, yet they account for 12% of total meat consumption, according to halal consultancy Imarat. Other estimates suggest 40% of poultry marketed in the UK already carries "halal" on the label.

In Europe and the UK there is a number of different certification bodies, which set varying guidelines - and charge varying fees to use their logo and for inspection services. This has prompted a degree of scepticism within the industry about their motives.

"In Europe there are many certification bodies and some have their heart in the right place," said Koen de Praetere, general manager of Belgian processor Volys Star at the recent Informa Agra World Poultry 2010 conference in London. "But others have their wallet in the right place," he added.

Mr de Praetere said his company was eager to enter the market because he expected 70% of the growth in poultry meat over the next two decades would be fuelled by Asia and the Middle East, where halal was in demand.

But he added that, due to the religious nature of halal, it could not be legislated for by government. He advised companies to conduct their own research into what was and what was not acceptable.