Thailand underperforming in halal export market

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL
Thailand underperforming in halal export market
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Failure to build trust among muslim consumers and lack of stronger regulation the main factors

A Thai-Muslim academic has floated a great idea, which, if successfully implemented, could do a lot of good to a lot of people.

But it requires a great deal of commitment from the private and public sectors, as well as inputs and participation of Muslim communities in the southernmost provinces.

Speaking at a recent seminar in Bangkok Prof Isra Santisart, director of the Centre for Muslim World Policies, called for a concrete strategy to help push Thai halal food products to better penetrate the world market. Halal foods are prepared in line with Islamic dietary guidelines.

Isra said Thailand's market share of halal food in the Muslim countries of the Middle East, Africa and Asia has been shrinking over the past 12 years when compared to halal food exporting countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

This is disappointing when one considers the fact that the quality of Thai food production has been improving over the years.

One of the reasons for this has to do with trust. Most of the producers of Thai halal foods are not Muslim, the academic pointed out.

It goes without saying that in order to enhance trust and confidence among Muslim consumers worldwide, there has to be stronger regulation from the authorities as to what constitutes halal.

As of now, just about anybody can slap a Muslim logo on their restaurant and declare their outlet to be halal. But in reality, there is a serious laxity in conforming to the requirements. And if the word gets around, the trustworthiness of the country's halal industry and brand will also take a beating.

Another option, with regard to exports, is to relocate the production base to Thailand's southernmost provinces where a vast majority of the people are Muslims.

And instead of labelling these Thai products with "Made in Thailand", Isra suggested that "Made in Patani" be used because the Muslim world is familiar with the Malay-speaking region.

Thailand should also consider using Indonesia and Malaysia as production bases, as this would help increase reliability.

Former senator, Prof Worawit Baru, is one public figure who has consistently called on the Thai government to come up with a comprehensive and meaningful plan for the country's halal industry in his home region.

Worawit said with the Asean Economic Community (AEC) becoming a reality at the end of the year, previous obstacles associated with connectivity such as logistics and movement of goods and services could be lowered.

He said he was impressed with the halal industries in Australia and New Zealand, particularly the meat sector, because everything was "halal" every step of the way - from the slaughter house to the packaging and distribution.

But all that hard work was rendered useless once the products arrived at supermarkets in Thailand where butchers see no need to comply with the halal procedure, which really doesn't cost anything.

For example, for halal you are not supposed to use the same knives or the same cutting board as ones used for non-halal meat, such as pork.

It is true that studies after studies point to the ongoing insurgency violence in the deep South as an obstacle to investments from outside. In spite of big tax breaks, Thai firms have been reluctant to take a chance with the deep South.

One way to get around this, said Prof Worawit, is to push for local participation and ownership.

Indeed, if local people have some ownership of the production, the insurgents would think twice before attacking the outlets.

Fear and concern among potential investors should not be taken lightly. But if one were to look at the activities of the insurgents over the past 11 years when the current insurgency emerged, the militants have not aimed to damage the local economy.

Yes, there has been collateral damage and some rubber and other business outlets have come under arson attacks over the past decade. But there still seems to be a perceptible level of self-restraint on the part of the insurgents. All in all, the economy and land prices in the region have continued to grow.

Successive central governments in Bangkok have been too busy demonising the insurgents to the point that it has distorted the reality on the ground.

Sadly, this is the price we pay for distorting information for political gains. An accurate picture of the region could not only help strengthen the economy of the region but also help resolve the conflict as well.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Thailand-underperforming-in-halal-export-market-30261298.html

-- The Nation 2015-05-31

[halloween]

They were doing so well on the halal import market.

[Thaddeus]

When a fall in Halal exports makes the news in a Buddhist country, we have a problem.

[Brindles]

Halal certification is a Muslim tax that has been shown to support terrorism. Time to expose the Wolf from under the Sheepskin. The rest of the World is waking up to this extortion as Muslims try to distort the facts for their own gain.

[Saan]

They might make inroads on the Muslim market by branding all their food products halal but there is a growing opposition to halal branded products in western markets so they could win some and lose some.

Halal certification is one of the better con tricks going around at the moment.

This proposed ploy of branding Thai products Made in Patani reminds of the Japanese, when their products were a byword for junk, manufacturing in a town called Usa and of course those products were stamped Made in USA. Maybe Thailand should go the whole hog (yes, it was meant it) and name a food processing region Mecca. That should put a few Saudi riyals into Thai bank accounts.

[tonbridgebrit]

http://www.beefcentral.com/trade/australian-beef-as-halal-as-it-gets-middle-eastern-reporters-discover/

[tonbridgebrit]

http://www.beefcentral.com/trade/australian-beef-as-halal-as-it-gets-middle-eastern-reporters-discover/

Thailand, Australia exports loads of halal meat. Maybe you can learn something from them.

The article is actually headlined : Australian beef "as halal as it gets," Middle Eastern reporters discover.

[Jdietz]

They could've stopped at 'underperforming'

[Nobatalee]

When a fall in Halal exports makes the news in a Buddhist country, we have a problem.

I so agree with you. As always, the noisy minority is the one making the headlines. This halal "fever" is just another way of propagating islam even in countries where they are a minuscule minority, this time by waving money as an incentive. So the recommendation from this muslim specialist is to move the industry to Malaysia? I think they should do it, along with all those who feel they are not treated fairly in this Buddhist country. Islam is a cancer that only stops growing when the host culture is completely engulfed -pun intended.

[thaiturkey]

I am now producing Halal Turkey in Malaysia.

After years of struggling and abuse from the Livestock Dept., and crooked lawyers (including Som sak), I decided it was time to move south.

It would seem that I made the right decision.

I recently made an offer to help out with investment in the "Deep South", but my offer seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

[Asheron]

Why aren't we forcing muslims to eat pork or non-halal? Because they are doing exactly the same to us by forcing us to eat halal. For instance most schools in Sweden only serve halal food and if you as a non-muslim parent complain to the school, municipality (they "control" schools) or Department of Education that you do not accept that your children are forced to eat ritual food you are either ignored or thrown the RACIST-card.

[simple1]

When a fall in Halal exports makes the news in a Buddhist country, we have a problem.

The Thai government is endeavouring to increase halal food production for additional jobs and to increase export revenues, so why wouldn't there be news coverage if failing to meet targets?

http://www.thailandhorizon.com/index.php/en/tradeshows/253-thailand-targets-halal-trade

Edited May 31, 2015 by simple1

[ratcatcher]

I am now producing Halal Turkey in Malaysia.

After years of struggling and abuse from the Livestock Dept., and crooked lawyers (including Som sak), I decided it was time to move south.

It would seem that I made the right decision.

I recently made an offer to help out with investment in the "Deep South", but my offer seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Good luck with your business in Malaysia. let's hope you don't get gobbled up by a multinational halal operator.

Do you find a huge surge in Christmas or Thanksgiving turkey orders?

[Saan]

Why aren't we forcing muslims to eat pork or non-halal? Because they are doing exactly the same to us by forcing us to eat halal. For instance most schools in Sweden only serve halal food and if you as a non-muslim parent complain to the school, municipality (they "control" schools) or Department of Education that you do not accept that your children are forced to eat ritual food you are either ignored or thrown the RACIST-card.

You don't have to go to Sweden to find halal tuck shops. They all are in Australia. Forget about any mention of Christmas or Easter at schools. 1.9 per cent of Australia's population are calling the shots.

[eeeya]

Yeee haa we're on a muzzo bash again

[NongKhaiKid]

They might make inroads on the Muslim market by branding all their food products halal but there is a growing opposition to halal branded products in western markets so they could win some and lose some.

Halal certification is one of the better con tricks going around at the moment.

This proposed ploy of branding Thai products Made in Patani reminds of the Japanese, when their products were a byword for junk, manufacturing in a town called Usa and of course those products were stamped Made in USA. Maybe Thailand should go the whole hog (yes, it was meant it) and name a food processing region Mecca. That should put a few Saudi riyals into Thai bank accounts.

They also re-named an area as Scotland so they could label their whisky as ' Made in ' too but the world trade body put paid to that.

[ratcatcher]

Yeee haa we're on a muzzo bash again

Good, my wife kills mozzies every night.

[simple1]

Why aren't we forcing muslims to eat pork or non-halal? Because they are doing exactly the same to us by forcing us to eat halal. For instance most schools in Sweden only serve halal food and if you as a non-muslim parent complain to the school, municipality (they "control" schools) or Department of Education that you do not accept that your children are forced to eat ritual food you are either ignored or thrown the RACIST-card.

You don't have to go to Sweden to find halal tuck shops. They all are in Australia. Forget about any mention of Christmas or Easter at schools. 1.9 per cent of Australia's population are calling the shots.

BS

[Tchooptip]

Why aren't we forcing muslims to eat pork or non-halal? Because they are doing exactly the same to us by forcing us to eat halal. For instance most schools in Sweden only serve halal food and if you as a non-muslim parent complain to the school, municipality (they "control" schools) or Department of Education that you do not accept that your children are forced to eat ritual food you are either ignored or thrown the RACIST-card.

Not only in Sweden unfortunately

[Goanna]

I would like to export halal pork to all islamic countries. They should get more pork on their fork. Lack of pork makes them want to behead people. What can I do?

[Asheron]

Why aren't we forcing muslims to eat pork or non-halal? Because they are doing exactly the same to us by forcing us to eat halal. For instance most schools in Sweden only serve halal food and if you as a non-muslim parent complain to the school, municipality (they "control" schools) or Department of Education that you do not accept that your children are forced to eat ritual food you are either ignored or thrown the RACIST-card.

You don't have to go to Sweden to find halal tuck shops. They all are in Australia. Forget about any mention of Christmas or Easter at schools. 1.9 per cent of Australia's population are calling the shots.

I can take other examples as well...

When the schools end for summer around beginning of june it has been a long, long tradition that classes go to church (Sweden has been christian country for about a millennium) but even this has stopped as to not "offend" a certain very vocal minority. Which minority it is i can imagine any thinking person can figure out. But then again, there are schools in Sweden that don't actually have a single ethnic swede anymore... statistics say that with the current immigration flow and birth rates Sweden will actually have a minority ethnic swedish population in about 40-50 years.

[EnglishJohn]

Halal food : an excellent indicator of where the Muslim religion belongs IMHO.

Back in the stone age when nobody knew anything and put it all down to a God - who must be kept happy.

[Thaddeus]

When a fall in Halal exports makes the news in a Buddhist country, we have a problem.

The Thai government is endeavouring to increase halal food production for additional jobs and to increase export revenues, so why wouldn't there be news coverage if failing to meet targets?

http://www.thailandhorizon.com/index.php/en/tradeshows/253-thailand-targets-halal-trade

The news is failing to hit the prophet margins, that is all, and that isn't news, it's propaganda.

[Basil B]

About time Supermarkets and Restaurants had signs:

"We have humanly killed, none halal meat"

[Naam]

Halal certification is a Muslim tax that has been shown to support terrorism. Time to expose the Wolf from under the Sheepskin. The rest of the World is waking up to this extortion as Muslims try to distort the facts for their own gain.

[Naam]

Why aren't we forcing muslims to eat pork or non-halal? Because they are doing exactly the same to us by forcing us to eat halal. For instance most schools in Sweden only serve halal food and if you as a non-muslim parent complain to the school, municipality (they "control" schools) or Department of Education that you do not accept that your children are forced to eat ritual food you are either ignored or thrown the RACIST-card.

ritual food =

[DM07]

Why not do a bit of Hindhu- bashing for not eating beef, huh?!

What's wrong with these guys, I mean I just pulled a statistic out my a....I have read somewhere, that you can not even call a woman a stupid cow in India!

They are totally forcing their archaic believe system onto us.

Or take them Jews!

Not only do they control all the worlds money and the Hollywood -movie industry...but that kosher -food they eat!

Disgusting!

Oh and look, what I found here: there is a passage in the bible, that talks about not eating shellfi...ahm...forget about that!

But the Muslims, I mean really: not a restaurant in all of Europe, where you can eat pork!

...or so I heard...somewhere...

[h90]

that is nice that Thailand torture less animals. For the vegetables I don't care but for the meat it should be forbidden.

[Saan]

Yeee haa we're on a muzzo bash again

Yer right. We don't have to bash 'em they do such a good job on each other.

When they get tired of that, maybe they'll start on us.

[Tchooptip]

Why aren't we forcing muslims to eat pork or non-halal? Because they are doing exactly the same to us by forcing us to eat halal. For instance most schools in Sweden only serve halal food and if you as a non-muslim parent complain to the school, municipality (they "control" schools) or Department of Education that you do not accept that your children are forced to eat ritual food you are either ignored or thrown the RACIST-card.

ritual food =

Sorry, no offence but I think too that Halal meat IS a ritual food since a prayer is said for each slaughtered animal ... if that is not ritual

Ritual: adjective [ attrib. ] relating to or done as a religious or solemn rite: ritual burial | a ritual murder.

• (of an action) arising from convention or habit: the players gathered for the ritual pre-match huddle.