PH gov’t only has 4 Halal labs

DOST-Davao director Anthony Sales said the Halal verification laboratory has helped micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the city to have an assurance system that their products are free from Haram components and other hazards. (File Photo)
DOST-Davao director Anthony Sales said the Halal verification laboratory has helped micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the city to have an assurance system that their products are free from Haram components and other hazards. (File Photo)

FOUR operating laboratories in the Philippines are offering testing service that could identify Haram and other hazard components in products and help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to become more competitive.

Each Halal verification laboratory costs around P50 million. One is located in Los Baños, Laguna, two are in Cotabato City and the other one is in the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Davao compound, Dumanlas, Bajada, Davao City.

DOST Davao director Anthony Sales said the laboratory in city was launched in 2017 and this have helped micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the city to have an assurance system that their products are free from Haram components and other hazards.

“One of the bases for Halal certification is really science. We already have a Halal verification laboratory in the city. With this, we hope to provide testing services required by our Halal enterprises to be certified,” Sales said.

“For an establishment to be certified, you need to have an assurance system or management system. We make sure that in the production of Halal products or in the provision of Halal services, we make sure those Haram components and other hazards associated with the Halal products are excluded from its value chain,” he said, adding that the purpose is to minimize contamination.

Sales said the three different Haram component groups are the porcine or components coming from the pig; the gelatin since it is usually of animal origin, mostly from pig; and alcohol content.

“The laboratories will test and analyze these components through a highly-technical method to detect DNA from pig and other animals that are not allowed for the Muslim individuals to consume,” Sales said.

For gelatin analysis, DOST uses an equipment called the Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) which is an analytical chemistry technique that combines the physical separation capabilities of liquid. For the alcohol, they use the gas chromatography.

Sales encouraged more MSMEs to avail the services of the government to help improve their businesses and make the Halal industry in the local market more competitive. He said the fees are affordable compared to others offering the same service since the rest of fees are already shouldered by the government.

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph