Newsletter Halal Italia June 2012 / Newsletter N° 005

With its 5 million Muslims, France is one of the major halal markets in Europe. The secularism of the French state has been conducive to increasing reflection on the compatibility of ritual slaughter within its national territory. This very same debate has resulted in intense discussions also throughout the rest of Europe and certain ‘extremist’ factions would like to see the introduction of a legal obligation to indicate on labels and the packaging of foodstuffs whether meat has been slaughtered without stunning. However, such wording might constitute a contrivance resulting in doubt on the part of consumers, and whereby the latter may question the quality of products and the dignity of ritual requirements of the Jewish and Islamic faiths. Halal Italia expressed its views in this regard at a conference entitled Halal: the Myths and the Reality, sponsored by the French Ministry of Health and held in Paris at the Institut des Cultures d’Islam on 19 April 2012. Thanks to the contributions and the wide experience of the halal certification bodies in France and Italy and various academic and institutional perspectives, this was a useful meeting, where it was possible to clarify the true significance, method and value of Islamic ritual slaughtering and its full compatibility with all values and criteria relating to hygiene, food safety and animal welfare enshrined in European legislation.

A further significant move forward on the front of foreign accreditation and cooperation for the development of a network of authoritative halal certification bodies at the international level has occurred in bilateral relations with Pakistan. Following an initial Memorandum of Understanding signed on 7 April 2011 with the Halal Development Council (HDC), a further agreement regulating collaboration and mutual recognition was established a few weeks ago with the Halal Research Council (HRC), these latter being the two main authorities in Pakistan in the area of training and halal certification.

An understanding between Italy and Pakistan: agreements between Halal Italia,HDC and HRC

Food safety and the welfareof animals in France and Italy

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LE MINISTÈRE DES AFFAIRES SOCIALESET DE LA SANTÉ

INDAL srl is the first Italian company specialised in the slaughtering and cutting of beef to be certified by Halal Italia. Thanks also to supply chain certification relating to the firm’s breeding farms located in France, this company can be considered an example of excellence and high quality.

This year the Scuola di Direzione Aziendale (SDA) once again organised a lecture in English on halal certification. Halal Italia intervened in the Sustainable Operations Management course held by Prof. Alberto Grando, the Dean of SDA Bocconi, with the participation of 50 students from around the world

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Newsletter Halal Italia June 2012 / Newsletter N° 005

During the “Islamic Culture Week” organised in Rome this year, an exceptionally interesting Forum was held at the Capitoline Museums on 25 May. With the aim of planning an initial operational network capable of raising levels of awareness and working towards improved integration - also at the financial level - of the Islamic community in Italy and the development of international trade in our country, amongst other bodies and organisations the Forum significantly attracted the participation of the Bank of Italy, the Italian Banking Association, the Ministry for International Cooperation and Integration, Invitalia and Simest, as well as embassies, major banks and a variety sector organizations. The event was strongly supported and implemented by the Shariah Board of the C.O.R.E.IS. (the Italian Islamic Religious Community) in collaboration with the Municipality of Rome, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (the Islamic UNESCO), the Autonomous Federation of Italian Bank Workers (FABI), the Free International University for Social Studies (LUISS) and the CEDAR (a professional network focused on the promotion of leadership, diversity and empowerment of European Muslims). Halal Italia participated as partner for the certification of Shariah-compliant insurance and financial products to be launched on the Italian market in the near future.

First Forum Economy and Integration: the international market and Islamic finance in Italy

“Halal” and interculturalism at the Bocconi School of Management

In these days of uncertainty on the part of the Municipality of Milan with regard to EXPO 2015, numerous projects are nevertheless being proposed in preparation for the important event dedicated to the theme of food and energy. In collaboration with ENIT, MIUR, Halal Italia and leading institutions within the academic, scientific and business worlds, the Parco Tecnologico Padano at Lodi arranged a preview of the event, which will see Italy as a protagonist of this world-level meeting. The Expo Days were in fact held on the theme ‘Earth meets Science’ at the Museum of the Risorgimento, at Palazzo Moriggia in Milan from 30 April to 5 May.

Expo Days, when Earth meets Science

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Newsletter Halal Italia June 2012 / Newsletter N° 005

In collaboration with the Centre for the Internationalization of Piedmont, the Chamber of Commerce of Turin held a seminar on 2 April 2012 entitled Halal Certification in the Food-Processing Sector organised by Halal Italia and the law firm Zunarelli and Associates. Over 30 Piedmontese food-processing firms attending the series of lectures had an opportunity to comprehend more fully the religious and technical requirements of halal certification and the national and international market for products conforming to the rules of Islamic doctrine.

Food-processingin PiedmontOpening up tothe halal market

The ongoing collaboration between the Bureau Veritas and Halal Italia involves training activities for companies that are clients of this world leader in the evaluation of compliance and the certification of Quality, the promotion of Health, Safety and Environmental and Social Accountability policies. In Florence, on 19 April this year, within the framework of the B.V. Open Days, Halal certification was presented during a seminar entitled Updates for the food sector: safety and sustainability in food-processing chains.

Bureau Veritas Open Daysin Florence