GLOBAL HALAL STANDARDS

Harmonization and world food trade:

Codex Alimentarus is an intergovernmental body, established in 1963 by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization. The group sets international food standards to protect consumer health and ensure fair trade.

The FAO & Codex Alimentations Division has adopted guidelines in regard to the use of the term “Halal” used for assuring fair international trade.

Halal food: Definition (codex simplified)

Food permitted under Islamic Law

1. Contains no unlawful substance
2. No direct contact with unlawful food substance
3. No direct contact with an appliance not free of an unlawful food substance
4. Not withstanding above conditions
5. Halal food can be processed in the same premises as non-Halal foods provided that measures
are taken to prevent Halal/non-Halal contact
6. Halal food can be processed using the same equipment as non-Halal food provided that
measures are taken to prevent Halal/non-Halal contact.

CANADIAN EXPORT – HALAL OPPORTUNITIES

According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

• Canadian agri-food exports to the key Halal markets totalled $1.0 Billion in 2006

• Canadian agri-food exports to the non-Muslim countries with significant Muslim populations
totalled $18 Billion in 2006