DUSHANBE, January 9, 2015, Asia-Plus — The number of enterprises meeting halal food standards is increasing in Tajikistan.
In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, Bahtiyor Shukurzoda, the head of the Agency on Standardization, Metrology, Certification and Trade Inspection (Tojikstandart), revealed on January 9 that 16 enterprises introduced halal standards last year.
“Tojikstandart is currently considering documents of three other enterprises that are also going to make shift to halal standards,” Shukurzoda noted.
“Products of enterprises operating in accordance with halal requirements are assessed by the Agency specialists, who graduated from international educational institutions in Malaysia, Turkey and India,” the Tojikstandart top manager said, noting that the assessment committee members also include representatives of Tajikistan’s Council of Ulema.
We will recall that food that meets Tajikistan”s halal standards became available for public sale on July 20, 2013. The government developed the halal standard in 2011-2012 with help from the Tajik Council of Ulema, the Health Ministry, the Committee on Religious Affairs and the Agriculture Ministry Veterinary Service, as well as by reviewing neighboring countries” experience. The requirements apply across food categories, including meat, bread, baked goods, dairy products and non-alcoholic drinks. Permission to use the halal label for one year is granted by a special Tojikstandart committee, including specialists from Tojikstandart and from the Tajik Council of Ulema.
Halal foods include foods that are permissible for Muslims to eat or drink under Islamic Sharia. The criteria specify both what foods are allowed, and how the food must be prepared. The foods addressed are mostly types of meat and animal tissue.
