BSTI starts issuing halal certificates

Bangladesh Standards & Testing Institution (BSTI) has started issuing halal certification for processed products, particularly processed foods, to facilitate exports.

Local businessmen will now be able to obtain both product quality certificate and Halal certificate from a single point, said a press release issued by the BSTI.

At an event organised at BSTI headquarters in Dhaka on Monday, the state-run agency handed over halal certificates to 9 products from 3 Units of Olympic Industries Limited.

“BSTI has started the formal process of issuing halal certificates. Bangladesh has adopted 3 international standards related to halal certificate of the product; we have begun issuing certificates following the appropriate process according to that standard,” said BSTI Director-General Dr Md Nazrul Anwar.

“As the country is a member of SMIC, the halal certification body of OIC member countries, the issuance of halal certificates will help domestic products expand expectedly for export”, he added.

The products of Olympic Industries which received halal certificates are Wafer Scoot, Lozenge, Plain Cake and Toffee of Olympic Industries Unit 1, Wafer biscuits, chocolates and biscuits from Olympic Industries Unit-2 and instant noodles and chips/crackers of Olympic Industries Unit-3.

Representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Export Development Bureau, Department of Livestock Services, Department of Agricultural Extension, Department of Fisheries, Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection, FBCCI, BCI, DCCI, CAB, Institute of Nutrition and Food Science of University of Dhaka, Islamic University and Madrasa-I-Awlia, Qawmi Madrasa attended the program.