DTI launches new logo for halal products

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is rolling out a logo to be used for locally made halal products and providing a special window for halal certification bodies as part of efforts to increase the country’s share in the global market for halal.

In a statement, the DTI which serves as the chair of the Philippine Halal Board, said the logo to be used for halal products made in the country, was launched during the 2nd Philippine National Halal Conference held in Clark, Pampanga last Wednesday.

“We would like to see notable exports of our halal products in the future. With this logo, our products can be identified easily by consumers as halal-certified products,” Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

While a Philippine halal logo has been launched, he said the existing halal logo of halal certification bodies would still be allowed.

Apart from the launch of the logo, he said the DTI’s accreditation bureau would be implementing a special window to cater to halal certification bodies as part of efforts to promote the country’s halal products.

Halal products and services are those which follow the prescribed process of preparation according to Islamic law and recognized by certification agencies.

Lopez said there is a need to increase Philippine halal products to take advantage of opportunities in the growing global market now valued at $2.6 trillion.

“Halal is not just for the Muslims, it is a way of life. It connotes purity, cleanliness, safety, quality – so many positive attributes that are now being recognized by non-Muslim consumers worldwide. Halal-certified products are associated with these attributes. Maximizing its opportunities will help the government in realizing President Duterte’s vision of providing better and comfortable lives for all Filipinos by creating more jobs. And we can do this by tapping halal’s booming global market and taking advantage of more business opportunities,” he said.

Of the $2.6 trillion global halal market, bulk or 62 percent is accounted by food and beverages, followed by pharmaceuticals at 22 percent, cosmetics and personal care at 10 percent and nutraceutical at six percent.

By 2025, the global halal market is estimated to hit $10 trillion.

Halal-certified food and beverage products in particular, are expected to grow to $1.93 trillion by 2022 from $1.25 trillion in 2016.

Halal tourism, which accounted for $169 billion in 2016, is likewise projected to rise to $283 billion by 2022.

Other services like the Islamic finance and Islamic commercial banking combined accounted for $3 trillion in 2016 and seen to reach more than $6 trillion by 2022.

The DTI estimates the country’s halal exports reached $560 million last year.

With demand for halal products and services on the rise, Lopez is encouraging micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to develop products and explore opportunities to cater to the halal market.

“I am optimistic that with greater collaboration between various sectors, we can support more MSMEs, encourage them to do and grow their businesses, and help us in developing more halal hubs in the country catering to domestic as well as export markets,” he said.