The Central Islamic Council
of Thailand is ready to help promote the halal business in the southern border
provinces, where the halal industry stands a good chance of growing
significantly.
The issue was discussed
when Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, Secretary-General of the Southern Border
Provinces Administrative Center, led a group of officials to hold a meeting
with members of the Central Islamic Council.
The meeting took place on 4
January 2014 at the Office of the Central Islamic Council, located at the
National Administration for Islamic Affairs Chalerm Phrakiat in Nong Chok
district, Bangkok. Also attending the meeting were Pattani Governor Wittaya
Panichpong and Secretary-General of the Central Islamic Council of Thailand
Police Major General Surin Palare.
The meeting was told that
the Council would send representatives to provide better understanding about
halal among local residents and entrepreneurs in the deep South. It would help
boost domestic and international markets for Thai halal products and shorten
procedures for halal certification and accreditation.
The Central Islamic Council
is responsible for issuing halal certification and accreditation in Thailand.
The Halal Standard Institute of Thailand was established in 2003 under the
supervision of the Council to develop halal product standards and conduct halal
product inspection in accordance with Islamic Law.
In any province without the
Provincial Islamic Council, entrepreneurs seeking approval for use of halal
logo is required to submit application to the Office of the Central Islamic
Council of Thailand.
Today the large Muslim
population worldwide consumes halal products and foods. It is expected that by
the year 2020, the population of Muslims in the world will be about two billion
people, an increase from 1.8 billion today. The number will account for 25
percent of the world’s population.
Because of its abundant
agricultural resources ready to be used as raw materials for food production,
Thailand has great potential for producing and exporting more halal food.
Currently it ranks fifth among the world’s largest halal producers, with the
halal export value of 220 billion baht a year. Thailand is developing Pattani,
one of the southern border provinces, into a halal industrial center.
Thai halal food is popular
not only among Muslims but also non-Muslim consumers. A large number of
health-conscious consumers are interested in this kind of food as well, because
its production process focuses on hygienic standards.
More than 110,000 items of
Thai halal goods have been certified by the Central Islamic Council of
Thailand.
(thailand.prd.go.th)