By Danial Dzulkifly
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — Selangor is set to accelerate its halal certification process, aiming to cut the approval timeline to under 23 days via digital tools, said state executive councillor for Islam and innovation Dr Fahmi Ngah.
Speaking at the Selangor International Halal Convention (Selhac) 2024, Fahmi said it is timely that the halal industry adopt best practices such as the extensive use of digitalisation and artificial intelligence to enhance its ecosystem.
“The halal industry must seize the opportunity to leverage technology to streamline certification processes, product traceability, and research,” he said, emphasising the state’s goal to adopt digital solutions for the benefit of businesses.
Fahmi was speaking at the opening of Selhac 2024, its inaugural inclusion into the Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS), the state’s premier trade platform.
Having kicked off today and ending Saturday, the event is being held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
SIBS 2024 is an umbrella that hosts other major events such as the 10th Selangor International Expo (Food and Beverage), the 4th Selangor Life Sciences Convention, and the 9th Selangor Smart City and Digital Economy Convention.
Fahmi said the Selangor government is focusing on digitising the halal industry’s data management system to simplify and speed up the certification process, particularly for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
“We aim for Selangor to set an example for both the federal government and other states in adapting digital solutions to accelerate and simplify the halal certification process for SMEs,” he said.
Leading these efforts for the state is Halal International Selangor (HIS Toyyiba), which has introduced the Certificate Readiness Assessment (CRA) system.
The CRA assists businesses in assessing their readiness for halal certification by breaking down the process into nine schemes under the Malaysian Halal Certificate.
This initiative, Fahmi said, will expedite halal certification for more companies in the state.
HIS Toyyiba is also collaborating with international partners, including Japan, the United States, and Dubai, to facilitate knowledge transfer and market expansion.
“We are continuously working to expand into new markets, including Central Asia and Eastern Europe, with efforts in place to penetrate markets like Uzbekistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
Fahmi explained that the state’s focus extends beyond certification, with efforts underway to enhance halal product traceability in collaboration with UiTM Technoventure and cover sectors such as food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and logistics.
“Our goal is to strengthen the ecosystem by offering comprehensive support across the supply chain, from certification to logistics,” he said.
