Japan keen to work with Brunei in developing halal standards ahead of 2020 Olympics

According to Tetsuya Otsuru, director of economic policy division at Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the global sporting event is expected to attract many Muslim visitors to Japan. This will increase demand for halal food, pushing Japan to learn from countries like Brunei that have developed their own halal certification systems.

 

But Otsuru said Japanese restaurant owners may first focus adopting the standards of Middle East countries which are more experienced in terms of halal certification.

 

This is because Middle East nations are known to implement more stringent halal regulations and standards than Asean countries.

 

“So they (Japanese restaurant businesses) may think such Middle East certification for example from the UAE would mean something and will ease the process of obtaining halal certificates from Muslim countries in Asean including Brunei and Malaysia,” he told foreign journalists during a recent briefing.

 

He said this can be included in a bilateral discussion with Brunei.

 

“But at the moment, there have not been any concrete steps yet (from the respective governments) but we do need to create and increase dialogue even with our private sector companies for example on Brunei halal certificate in the future,” Otsuru said.

 

Mie Katsun, head of Traditional Dietary Cultures Office at the Food Industry Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said “there will be a cost” for Japanese companies to obtain halal certifications.

 

“So we (the Japanese government) will try to give them financial support. And also we try to support them so that they can set up facilities for the processing or treatment of halal meat,” she said.

 

The strength of Brunei Halal’s product branding is widely attributed to its certification system which is recognised worldwide and has the advantage of a single accreditation body under Brunei’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, industry players have said.

 

The brand was launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (formerly known as MIPR).

 

This is in line with the nation's plan to diversify its economy.

 

Brunei’s halal accreditation starts at the source and only producers that meet the standards of halal and the high quality and safety associated with it will be awarded the Brunei Halal certification.

 

Brunei Wafirah Holdings Sdn Bhd, the company that owns the Brunei Halal brand, set up an office, a warehouse and a distribution centre in the UK called Brunei Wafirah UK in 2011.

 

The UK operation focuses on retail products catering mainly to UK and European markets.

 

Brunei Halal products, which include frozen meals, sauces and bread and are distributed in Singapore and the UK.