Ufa administration urges to struggle with Halal counterfeits

Ufa administration warned meat retailers about possible presence of false Halal meat in the meat markets. It is explained by the fact that the cases of false Halal meat sales in local markets become more and more frequent. This meat is sold out without the certificate of conformance, given by the Russian State Standard Committee. It often happens that Halal forgers use the names “Muslim”, “Islamic”, “Tatar” and the pictures of mosques and semi crescents, directly associated with the Islamic canons, on the labels.

The attempts of jobbers to false Halal products are quite explainable. At present time Halal market is becoming more and more popular and its annual circulation reaches 600 billion USD in the world and every year it grows by 10-15%. This tendency is quite explainable since more than two billion Muslims live all over the world and it is important for them to know that they eat really Halal foodstuffs. This market segment is rapidly developing in Russia too and if ten years ago the sellers looked with surprise at those buyers, who asked Halal meat in the shops, now the foodstuffs under this label can be met in every market. The real Halal foodstuffs are more expensive than their ordinary analogues because of the complexity of Halal production cycle and active usage of manual labor, so it is quite clear why many jobbers sell foods under Halal trademarks.

For protection of consumer rights in Russia the Russian Mufti Council worked up and approved the voluntary certification Halal system and those manufacturers, who pretend to legitimacy of their Halal foods, have to pass this certification. The Center of standardization and certification of the Russian Mufti Council jointly with the regional Halal committees under the clerical Muslim departments works as the certification body in Russian regions. Such committee started working in Bashkortostan since June 2009. The committee is busy with development of Halal industry in Bashkortostan and controls the activity of the legal persons, involved in Halal manufacturing.