DTI, UAE ink deal to boost halal exports

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has entered into an agreement with the United Arab Emirates’ Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA) to make it easier for Philippine businesses to export halal products to the UAE.

The DTI said the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the agency through the Philippine Accreditation Board (PAB) and the UAE-ESMA is expected to increase halal exports to the Gulf state.

Under the MOU, halal certification bodies accredited by the PAB would be automatically recognized in UAE.

As such, products certified by these certification bodies would be able to enter the UAE market freely.

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the Philippines would also find it easier to enter the UAE market.

Halal is the prescribed process of preparation of products according to Islamic law.

To be considered halal, products and services need to be certified by halal certification agencies.

Earlier, the DTI said it is aiming to increase the country’s exports of halal products to $1.4 billion this year from an average of about $800 million annually in the previous years.

The government has also come up with a road map which aims to make the Philippines a recognized player in the global halal market.