Turkey is looking to expand its interests in the $2 trillion halal industry according to regional industry experts. Currently more than 80% of halal trade is conducted by non-Muslim countries, with top products including halal foods and beverages, confectionary, cosmetics and skincare products.
According to Food Auditing and Certification Research Association (GİMDES) Chairman Hüseyin Kami Büyüközer Turkey needs to now concentrate its efforts on the global halal market. He said "Asian countries in particular are very sensitive about halal products. Unfortunately non-Muslim Western countries are currently leading the global halal market. This should not be the case. Turkey is a big country, and it should have a bigger role in the halal market. Turkey should replace those countries."
According to Professor Ahmet Akgündüz, rector of the Islamic University of Rotterdam, also commented on the issue, claiming that the failure of current halal groups to present a united front has led to a lack of major industry bodies to handle the issue. He said "For example, there are seven or eight foundations and companies working on halal food in the Netherlands. But they do not cooperate and therefore cannot receive state aid," he noted. The professor also stressed that the preparation and handling of foods does not make them 100 percent halal. Producers should also be careful about their procedures after the preparation of foods, such as during packaging, transportation and logistics.
"If producers do not pay attention to all those steps in the process and ensure their compliance with halal standards then their products will not be halal. Consumers have to be careful. And so should state authorities. Muslim states should be careful about the meat they import to their countries. Turkey is under considerable threat in this sense. Halal does not simply mean products without pork-based ingredients."